Son of the Father

For a long time, I've been struck by the life of Barabbas. According to Matthew, Barabbas was a "notorious prisoner". Mark lists him among a group of "rebels in prions, who had committed murder in the insurrection". John simply tells us that Barabbas was a robber.
It strikes me that these were not only his legal descriptions, but also the adjectives that began to define who he was . He was no longer Barabbas, son of____________. He was no longer Barabbas, brother to_______________. He was no longer Barabbas, the man who worked with____________. He was legally and nominally Barabbas, the notorious prisoner. Barabbas, whose name means son of the father, was no longer defined as being the son of his father, but as the man who had committed murder during an insurrection. He was the notorious prisoner.

But, even Barabbas, the notorious criminal receives grace (getting what we don't deserve) and mercy (not getting what we do deserve) in the form of Jesus Christ. Barabbas was the man for whom Christ literally took the cross of death. Pilate, who wanted nothing to do with Christ's punishment or death asked the crowd if they wanted Jesus or Barabbas. This would be like President Obama asking the country who that want forgiven and released: Osama Bin Laden, or a man who had done nothing illeagal, but simply had offended a group of people. It seems like Pilate was trying to choose the most hated man possible so that the mob would have to choose to release Christ. But in their fury, the mob chose to release Barabbas. He received the opportunity for a new life. Mercy. He was pardoned from the death he deserved. Grace.

As I think about the life of Barabbas, it's not hard to put myself in his place. I was born into a life as a notorious criminal/sinner. This was my identity.
But as the mob cries for my release, it is Christ who takes the death I deserve. And in that, I receive new life. In that, my identity changes from notorious sinner, to son of the father.

May I step further into life-relationship with the Father through Christ. May the rhythms of the trinity be at work in and through my life. May the gospel be ever fresh in my heart and mind.

"It was my sin that held him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished"
-How Deep the Fathers Love For us