Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward...
Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. - John 18.4-5 (ESV)
Jesus isn't surprised when we mess up.
We are sin-stained. He knows what's ahead.
And yet he chooses us.
Jesus eternally erases the black marks of future sins.
We are Judas.
We walk closely to Jesus, even handling his money.
We sit in the seat of honor next to Jesus.
And then we betray him with our sins.
"I find no guilt in him... Do you want me to release the King of the Jews?"
"Not this man, but Barabbas!"
- John 18.38-40 (ESV)
He is Jesus. We are Barabbas.
Jesus is innocent. We are guilty.
He is condemned. We are set free.
Barabbas in Greek means, son of the father.
The son of the father is released while
the Son of the Father is tortured.
Yet the scandal of the gospel is that
God's will is fulfilled.
The Guiltless One assumes our guilt.
The Innocent Prince absorbs God's wrath.
The Trinity is torn assunder.
And salvation is offered to all through this sacrifice.
To Judas' and Barabbas' everywhere.
