Picture this imaginary scene based on Matthew 27:15-26, when the crowd demanded Jesus be crucified and a criminal named Barabbas set free:
“Hey, Mom, who’s Barabbas?” “I don’t know, honey, but he’s sure safer to have on the loose than that Jesus. Look how much trouble follows HIM around! We don’t need that kind of trouble. No, we’re much safer with Barabbas than with Jesus on the loose!”
“Oh, but Mom?” “What now, honey?”
“Well, what if what they’re saying about Jesus is true? I mean, what if he really IS the Messiah?”
“Then it won’t really matter, because he’ll save himself. That’s what the priests said earlier. Now SHHH! I can’t hear a thing!”
“Mom! They’re going to hurt Jesus. They’re going to hurt him real bad! Are they really going to kill him, really? That’s not right! What did he ever do to them, besides try to get them to listen to the truth?”
“Be QUIET! If someone hears you talking that nonsense, they’ll think we’re his followers! Like I said, we’re safer with Barabbas. Jesus is trouble — big trouble. Now we’d better get home. Your father and brothers will be home soon and we need to fix supper.”
So, which is it for you. Is Barabbas loose in your life, or is Jesus? Scripture tells us that we are to live IN the world, but not be OF the world: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” (Romans 12:2, New Living Translation)
You might have thought as you read the story of the mom and daughter above, “How could she say that? Doesn’t she know?” The truth is, we “release Barabbas” quite often. And yes, we send Jesus off – to wherever – just as often too. Part of our lives as disciples of Christ is taking an honest look at those times and bringing them to God in prayer, asking God to transform us, to change the way we think and act.
The mom in the story is acting in the way of her world – in many ways the same world we live in. Her daughter is preaching a fine sermon. Maybe she heard. Maybe. God used that little girl in a mighty big way.
God can use you and I that way, too. So, who will be "on the loose" in your life today?
Will it be Barabbas? Or Jesus?