As a child, I really enjoyed it when our Bible class teacher would divide us up (usually the boys against the girls) and quiz us over Bible characters, places, and events. Some of the questions were “trivial” such as, “Did you know the Bible contains 1,189 chapters, 31,102 verses, and 3,237 names? Of course, you probably didn’t know all that, but I enjoyed learning that sort of trivia.
Let me take a moment of your time and give you a short “Who Am I” quiz. How many clues will it take you to get the correct answer?
Okay, so here’s the quiz:
- At one time this person was the captive of a ruler we read about in the Bible.
- This person was legitimately taken captive (in other words, he wasn’t falsely imprisoned.
- This person was given the opportunity to be pardoned, but his pardon would mean Jesus’ death.
Who Am I? _____________________
Did you get the right answer? How many clues did you have to read until you thought you knew the answer? If you answered, “Barabbas,” I’ll give you partial credit, but that’s not the answer I was looking for. If you inserted your own name, then give yourself full credit.
Ah, now you see where I’m going, don’t you? Have you ever wondered what it must have been like to have been Barabbas? To be pardoned for his own crimes through the suffering and death of an innocent person? Have you ever wondered if it weighed heavy on his conscience? Do you think that it had an impact on his life and changed him for the better? Or did he squander the freedom that he had been granted? Friends, we’re Barabbas and maybe the answer to those questions are best answered by examining how we feel about being pardoned at Jesus’ expense. Give it some thought.