sunday is coming

The story of the resurrection of Jesus is one that never fails to give me chills. For God to send His only son to be tortured, nailed to a cross, and die for sins he never committed astounds me. It amazes me that I (and you) get to serve a God that is THAT GOOD. There are so many parts of this story that I love. I mean if I’m honest, I love every part of it. But as I was reading through, the story of Barabbas and Jesus stuck out to me. 

Barabbas was not a good man. He was a terrorist and a murderer. They held a feast before the crucifixion. At the feast, the governor said he would release whichever prisoner the crowd wanted. When Pilate asked the crowd who they wanted to be released, everyone yelled “Barabbas!” So, Barabbas was released. 

The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to choose Barabbas so that Jesus would remain a prisoner. The crowd chose Barabbas, a man who had murdered and robbed others, over Jesus who had lived a sinless life and done nothing but be a perfect example of God’s love for us. Now the part that really gets me is that God still sent His son knowing Jesus would experience this pain in the place of those very same people yelling for Barabbas to be freed instead. 

Barabbas means “son of the father”. Barabbas is you and I. I am a sinner, yet I am a daughter of the living King. We are sons and daughters of the ultimate father. You and I deserve to be the ones up on the cross, yet we serve a God who sent His son to take our place. An act of love so great, that it’s hard for our minds to comprehend it all. He bore a pain so deep, for you and for me. 

The standard of perfection was sent to a tree, nails in His hands & feet, & blood streaming down His cheeks. The pain He endured on our behalf is unimaginable. 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a redemptive story. From the very beginning, God had set his son aside to save you & me– sinners. To right our wrongs before we even committed them, all so that we could have a seat at His table. The cross is a beautiful reminder of God’s grace, His power, His mercy, and His undying love for you & me. 

“Death is swallowed up in victory. 

O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting? 

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15: 54-57 

As the sun rose on Sunday, no one realized the most undeserved death imaginable would yield the greatest return calculable. Rejoice– Sunday is coming!