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"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.  Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens tome." "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?" They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.  John 18:37-40

 

 

the great exchange.

Jesus, the perfect sinless Saviour in exchange for Barabbas, the guilty rebellious sinner.

in a way, we’re ALL Barabbas.

 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a scandalous message.
It’s a shocking revelation.
It’s a prophetic declaration.
It’s a transforming proclamation.
It’s a soul-saving truth and it is the power of God for all who believe.

The Gospel is a message about God:
The Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is perfect in all His attributes, blameless in all His ways, righteous in all His judgments. He is all powerful and all knowing. He is strong, mighty, holy, just, wrathful, vengeful, and jealous. He is caring, patient, compassionate, merciful, gracious, loving, and forgiving. God is good.

The Gospel is a message about Man:
Created in God’s image—created good: yet fallen, disobedient, rebellious, corrupt, proud, wicked, evil, sinful, unholy, unrighteous, ungodly, guilty, helpless, hopeless, lost, condemned, separate from God and destined for eternal punishment in the torments of hell.

The Gospel is a message about Jesus Christ:
The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The anointed one of God who saves. Born of a virgin; killed on a cross; resurrected on the third day. Beloved by the Father, yet smitten by Him for our transgressions. Perfectly innocent, yet punished by God for our wickedness.

Jesus Christ is the only way to forgiveness. The only way to reconciliation, restoration, and redemption. The only way to eternal hope and true meaning and real purpose. The only way to lasting joy and enduring happiness and endless pleasure. The only way to salvation. The only way to heaven. The only way to God’s grace.

Barabas by Caleb and Sol read more at their blogspot – Caleb and Sol Barabas

 

 

 

Jesus Is__ the Music Project has an amazing preach/song about barabbas that so … *touched isnt the right word – stirred… provoked… spoke to my heart

there is no record of the response barabbas makes to the exchange

no record of a changed life, a redeemed life

no barabbas the preacher, barabbas the evangelist, barabbas the disciple

jesus knew that God had to treat jesus like barabbas  so that barabbas could be treated like jesus

barabbas thought that the people set him free, that the people secured his release

but it was the love of God that freed him

just as it is the love of God that frees us and saves us

just as it is Jesus exchanged for me and me for Jesus

 

while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

 

we are all guilty in need of a saviour, in need of freedom, in need of forgiveness.

and it plays out so dramatically in the exchange of Barabbas for Jesus.

help me, Lord, to always remember that i am ransomed… that though i was undeserving of your grace, you freely exchanged yourself and laid your life down for my salvation.

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