Today's Daily Lesson comes from John chapter 18 verses 38 through 40:
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. 39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 40 They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.
The people had a choice. They could choose to save the life of Jesus of Nazareth or Barabbas, a notorious "bandit" -- a term we think of as a robber, but is one also linked with crimes of political chaos. Perhaps good analogies for Barabbas from American history might be Jesse James and Frank James, bank and train robbers whose exploits were types of guerrilla tactics during the Civil War and after the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. Just like the James Gang, Barabbas' gang was a part of the "rebellion" -- a word used to describe the Confederacy and also used explicitly when another book of the Bible talks about what happened with Barabbas.
The Jews present (Remember, importantly, it wasn't all the Jews. Jesus taught quite openly and was protected by huge crowds. But when he was found alone, his captors ushered in another crowd) yelled and screamed for Jesus' life. So Barabbas the bandit was spared and Jesus died, all because the people present wanted rebellion.
There is more, "Barabbas" means literally "son of the father". So it was, that so many there wanted one "son of the father", ruthless and violent and full of anger over another "Son of the Father", kind and peaceful and full of grace and truth.
And so it was, that this latter Son gave his life for the former, and for the crowd called for his crucifixion.
"And he never said a mumblin' word."
NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow's Lesson comes from Matthew 28 and Mark 16.
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