Remembering the Passion

It's been a hand full of years or so since I watched Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ." I never wrote about my experience seeing it. In a word, I was "undone." (Selah~pause to reflect)

And as I consider Jesus' death for my sins this Easter season anew, I want to remember the price He paid. I want to remember what it cost Him in pain, bloodshed, torture, humiliation. I want to remember the rending, ripping in two (three!) of the Trinity (have you ever thought about it?) ~ that mankind could be saved.

The Passion of the Christ (movie) helped me remember in the past. It helps me today, too.

But I can't watch it again. I saw it once. I then purchased a copy when it was released, but only watched the parts I could handle (which was about five minutes). I also purchased the book. I can look at that a little bit easier. But it's still hard. I am an emotional person. Where other people talk (not that I don't), where other people run to and fro in busy-ness like Mary's sister, Martha, in the Scripture (I sometimes do that, too), I "feel."

Do you remember the verse, "Jesus wept"? That's me. I cry at the drop of a hat. I'm an Italian. I wear my feelings on my sleeve. Where others have charisma, speaking ability, star power, I have heart.

When I think about what our Lord did, when I consider the "wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died," my heart breaks and is filled with joy and gratitude at the same time.

Oh, thank You Lord Jesus for your love. Oh, thank You Father God for your grace. Oh, thank You Holy Spirit for your help and power. Oh, thank You!

(Picture in the public domain: HERE.)

You might also be interested in:

• On Appointed Tasks and Talking Donkeys
• Was Jesus in the Grave Three Days and Three Nights or Not?

Whatever Became of Barabbas? (Part 2)

Do you remember the story of Jesus and Barabbas? Barabbas was freed while Jesus was condemned in his place. It's a picture of what Christ has done for us. We each are under the death penalty for our sins. Jesus took our place and paid the price so we could go free.

So where did Barabbas end up after his release? What kind of life did he lead in the days that followed? Have you ever wondered about that?

The Bible is silent on what happened to Barabbas. History is also silent. I read in a Bible Encyclopedia that "Nothing is known concerning the subsequent history of Barabbas." And so it's a mystery - the answer to whatever became of Barabbas. Nobody knows.

And yet I'd like to offer you a couple of scenarios of what might have happened to him though we don't have evidence for it. It's just my conjecturing, but I think either scenario might be close to the truth.

The first scenario of what became of Barabbas in my mind is he was so struck by the turn of events that had accompanied his release that his attention was captured and he sought for a change in his life. And quite possibly - hopefully - that change he sought included asking God for forgiveness of sins, being born again and then living for the Lord. Could Barabbas have been among the 120 in the Upper Room when the Spirit fell on Pentecost? (Acts 2:1-4) He could have been there. Why not if he'd accepted Christ?

It's just conjecture, this first scenario of mine. Whether you agree with it or not, this could have been what happened to Barabbas.

And then there's scenario number two: Barabbas went right back to his old life upon being set free. He robbed again. (John 18:40) He took part in insurrection-type activities again. (Mark 15:7a) And could it be that he even murdered again? (Mark 15:7b) Might Barabbas have ended up back in prison, condemned and awaiting execution a second time? This just might very well have been how Barabbas ended up. And after all that God had done for him to bring about his release, I was thinking, this would be a most saddening turn of events indeed.

And certainly I've only been conjecturing about what became of Barabbas here. But by doing so, we've really been afforded what are the two responses that any person can make towards what Christ has done to set him free from sin. #1: A person can respond by surrendering his life to God to follow and obey Him. Or #2: A person can go on living like he's been living - apart from the Lord - apart from freedom - even though Jesus has made it so he can be free. The choice is each of ours to make. How will we go on living when we realize that Jesus has secured our release?

(To read Part 1 - The "Luck" of Barabbas, click here.)

The "Luck" of Barabbas (Part 1)

Barabbas. Do you remember him? He was the guy when Jesus was before Pilate who was offering for someone to be let go - it was Barabbas who got to go. You talk about "luck." That's what many in our society would call it.

While as believers - how many of you know we don't live life with that kind of "chance" mentality? Rather, we know things happen for a reason. We know there's a God behind it all that causes this and that to take place and allows this and that or disallows this and that. We, as believers, don't live thinking it's by chance that things happen.

Barabbas wasn't chosen to be in the running for freedom in Pilate's court that day long ago by chance. Uh uh. Instead, it was by design. It was God's "design" that Barabbas was chosen. It was because God wanted Barabbas there that he was there. It was because God wanted Barabbas set free.

And isn't that what God's favor and grace is all about? "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God's favor and grace. It's all about people being chosen for freedom (from sin) not based on who they are or what they've done in the past, but rather based on because God's love has decided for it to happen. (Romans 5:8)

God had decided that Barabbas should go free though he was a "notorious prisoner." (Matthew 27:16) and though he had insurrection in his blood. (Barabbas had robbed and murdered the Bible says.) Despite Barabbas' wickedness, God decided that Jesus should be held and killed and Barabbas let go (when it should have been the other way around).

Isn't that amazing?

And it's all the more amazing when you understand the story of Barabbas is really a story about you and and a story about me. We are all prisoners of sin with no hope of release (just like Barabbas). And yet God's design is that Jesus take our place and die that we might be set free.

O the depths of the riches of God's favor and grace! It's enough to make a person shout, "Hallelujah!"

(To read Part 2 - Whatever Happened to Barabbas?, click here.)

A Biblical Look At Hell

Pastor Mike shares what the Scriptures have to say about a place you don't want to go.

A Heavy Burden

Journey to the Celestial City #1. John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" is the #1 best-selling book of all time after the Bible. It starts out with a man undone and wrought with grief over his condition, but he knows not what it is that has brought this feeling upon himself. Indeed, the man has a great and heavy burden on his back. Later, he will discover it's the very issue that's put him in such an upset state. Have you ever felt an unease about your existence? It's a primary way that God uses to get through to a person. It's a primary way through which God speaks. Could He be speaking to you at this very moment? Could He be speaking to you about the burden you're carrying? "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) More to come in the next blog post. Check back soon. (To read this entire blog post series, scroll down to "Pilgrim's Progress Series" in the left sidebar.) pp 1

Whatever Became of Barabbas?

Do you remember the story of Jesus and Barabbas? Barabbas was freed while Jesus was condemned in his place. It's a picture of what Christ has done for us. We each are under the death penalty for our sins. Jesus took our place and paid the price so we could go free.

So where did Barabbas end up after his release? What kind of life did he lead in the days that followed? Have you ever wondered about that? The Bible is silent on what happened to Barabbas. History is also silent. I read in a Bible Encyclopedia that "Nothing is known concerning the subsequent history of Barabbas." And so it's a mystery - the answer to whatever became of Barabbas. Nobody knows. And yet I'd like to offer you a couple of scenarios of what might have happened to him though we don't have evidence for it. It's just my conjecturing, but I think either scenario might be close to the truth.

The first scenario of what became of Barabbas in my mind is he was so struck by the turn of events that had accompanied his release that his attention was captured and he sought for a change in his life. And quite possibly - hopefully - that change he sought included asking God for forgiveness of sins, being born again and then living for the Lord. Could Barabbas have been among the 120 in the Upper Room when the Spirit fell on Pentecost (Acts 2)? He could have been there. Why not if he'd accepted Christ? It's just conjecture, this first scenario of mine. Whether you agree with it or not, this could have been what happened to Barabbas.

And then there's scenario number two: Barabbas went right back to his old life upon being set free. He robbed again. He took part in insurrection-type activities again. And could it be that he even murdered again? Might Barabbas have ended up back in prison, condemned and awaiting execution a second time? This just might very well have been how Barabbas ended up. And after all that God had done for him to bring about his release, I was thinking, this would be a most saddening turn of events indeed.

And certainly I've only been conjecturing about what became of Barabbas here. But by doing so, we've really been afforded what are the two responses that any person can make towards what Christ has done to set him free from sin. #1: A person can respond by surrendering his life to God to follow and obey Him. Or #2: A person can go on living like he's been living - apart from the Lord - apart from freedom - even though Jesus has made it so he can be free. The choice is each of ours to make.

How will we go on living when we realize that Jesus has secured our release?

God in Human Terms

"The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry" (Psalm 34:15). Of course, the Lord doesn't have "eyes" or "ears." These are what's called "anthropomorphisms," which is just a big word for when God is described using human terms. This is how the Bible Encyclopedia defines anthropomorphism: "[It's a] figure of speech whereby the deity is referred to in terms of human bodily parts or human passions. ...Exodus 24:10 speaks of the feet of God. The commandments were written witht he finger of God (Ex. 31:18). Moses sees God's 'back' but not His 'face' (33:23). Actually, this last instance is questionable. The Heb. word here is not the regular word for 'back' but can mean 'after effects.' That is, Moses saw the glory, but not the essence of God. ...The Psalms illustrate the use of anthropomorphisms. The highly poetic Psalm 18 pictures God as breathing forth smoke (v. 8) uttering a voice of thunder (v. 13) and whose breath is the wind (v. 15). God's eyes and eye lids test the children of men (Ps. 11:4). Second Chronicles pictures the eyes of the Lord as running throughout the earth (16:9)" (Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia, Vol I; 177-78). Now coming back to Psalm 34:15 for a moment. What we gain as far as application for our own lives as regards the "eyes" of the Lord on the righteous and His "ears" attentive to their cry - again, God doesn't have eyes and ears in a literal sense, but He does perceive in a very real way what each of us is dealing with in the present and He's ever ready, willing and able to respond to our needs. He's concerned and working on our behalf, beloved. It's a good word from the "mouth" of God! Did you need to hear it today?