Monday, March 3, 2008

Give us Barabbas!

Remember the scene when Jesus was taken before the Jews by Pilate? Jesus was in His blood-stained robe, wearing a crown of thorns, maybe having His hands chained (feet even), and also a new garment of scars(what the movies depict rite)? And then Pilate asked the Jews, "It is your custom to release a prisoner during the Passover feast every year. So, Hu? Jesus or Barabbas?"

"Give us Barabbas!"
"Barabbas!!"
"woohoo, yeayea yea! Barabbas!"
"Ba-rab-bas! Ba-rab-bas! Ba-rab-bas!"
(whatever..)

And so, the murderer who has taken part in an insurrection was released. Have you ever wondered why the Jews liked him so much? It's not like they hated Jesus to the extent that they are willing to release anyone except Jesus, even the worst of prisoners. It's because they liked him(maybe). Imagine, the authorities in Darlie's (say, it's a boy) school is disliked very much by Darlie and his friends. Then, Darlie rebelled(insurrected), but of course, he was kicked out of school. Then came the headmaster's retirement and all of a sudden, he says, "I'm bringing a student back. Do you all want (whoever who's in the situation paralleled to Jesus) or Darlie?" Imagine what will the students' reply be? Barabbas was considered a hero among the Jews(that's what was written in my bible).

Why did God allow this Barabbas thingy to happen? Can't it just be canceled out of His plan in Jesus' death since it seems so insignificant? Guess what does Barabbas mean? Barabbas is in Aramaic and it means "son of Abba". And Jesus died in the place of Barabbas, in the place of "son of Abba"!! Cool?

so, give us Barabbas or give us Jesus? =)

Are you Resting?

I was pondering on the question "Lord, what do You want to speak to me?" as seen in yesterday's Lent meditation(Sunday meditation) when this thought came into my mind, "are you really resting or just recuperating?"

True enough, today's devotion in e-sword by George Morrison talks about the restfulness of Christ. There are some people who impress us with their restfulness even though they may be energetic, passionate, or even, noisy or "kee siao", haha!. Yet, we just feel the restfulness that radiates out of them so strongly. The people may be our parents, our friends, the elders, the matured, it may also be(not to miss out) the children.

"They are not necessarily brilliant, nor have they any striking or unusual gifts: all we feel is that in their company there is a pleasant atmosphere of restfulness." -Morrison

Every time I read the Gospels, I can see the restfulness of Jesus radiating so strongly, that it even stills me. One of the reasons for the restfulness, as Morrison says, is the love which Jesus has. Another pillar of the restfulness of Jesus is the trust that He has in His Father. Imagine a husband betraying the trust of his wife, and the wife her husband. The next thing you'll see is the restlessness of the betrayed one, constantly checking up on the other one and doubting all that the other one is doing. Jesus is faithful to God, Jesus is restful.

Are you the kind of person whom people feel restful with?