My Name is Barabas

Or it could be. I mean, I am like Barabas. A sinner. Saved by grace.

I deserved to die. Only perfect love, only perfect holiness can enter into Heaven where God in His pure holiness dwells. Only sinlessness is worthy of life eternal, can escape the wrath brought on by sin. And that, sinlessness, is not me. Not at all. But because of Jesus, it is. He has made me clean. He has bore my iniquity. He took my place. He died for me. He rescued me so I could be set free from the bonds of sin and death.

Like Barabas.

Did Barabas allow Christ to not only die for him, but to change him and eternally redeem him?

Did Barabas stop and ponder? Did he watch them take Jesus, in his place? Did he hear the moans, watch the awful beatings, see the blood flow, experience the darkened skies, behold Him die, on that rugged cross? For Him. Instead of Him.

Just as He did for me. Instead of me.

And then He called me, changed me. No longer, would I be known by my Savior by the name of sinner, but rather, I would be called by a new name. I would be called a Child of God. A child of the risen, redeemer King!!

What a humbling, beautiful and glorious name! Thank you King Jesus!