Give us Barabbas

Day 22 Through 90 days Through the New Testament 

Daily Reading Luke 22-24

    Our Daily reading today is intense, full of betrayal, fear and so many emotions. There’s so much to talk about in just these 3 chapters today. But what hit me like never before was “ Give us Barabbas”.

   I was raised in church my entire life. Growing up We were always a part of the plays at Easter and Christmas. So I've heard crowds of people yell Give us Barabbas time and time again. But hearing it today as I read it felt different, more familiar. Because the emotions and the feeling behind those words have been echoing back and forth across this world forever. 

    Oh the words may have changed but the spirit attached to them is the same.

• “Give us Barabbas”

• “ My body, My choice”

• “ Let us live our own Truth”

• “Don’t judge me.”

• “It’s my life, I’ll do what I want.”

• “It’s 2025 - times have changed.”

     Different words but the Spirit is the same. A world so full of people that would rather have Barabbas and live a life without having to live for Jesus.Our world still cries out for Barabbas. Every time we choose comfort over conviction, culture over Christ, or feelings over faith… We echo that same chant: “Give us Barabbas.It’s not always shouted from a crowd anymore. Sometimes it’s whispered in compromise. It’s when we excuse sin because it’s popular, or when we choose silence because speaking truth might cost us something. It’s when we crave acceptance more than obedience.

   And yet, even knowing they would reject Him, Jesus still stood there. He didn’t argue His innocence. He didn’t fight back. He willingly took the punishment meant for Barabbas, for you and for me.That’s what stopped me in my tracks today. Barabbas didn’t deserve freedom, but Jesus gave it anyway. Neither did I. But he took my place.

  The crowd chose rebellion over redemption, but Jesus still chose the cross.

So when the world shouts “Give us Barabbas,” I want my heart to shout back, “Give me Jesus.”

The One who traded His life for mine.

The One who loved me even when I was still part of the crowd.

When I read those words today “Give us Barabbas” it wasn’t just history on a page. It was a mirror.

How many times have I chosen my own way over His?

How many times have I traded peace for pride, truth for comfort, calling for convenience?

I don’t want Barabbas.I don’t want the temporary fix, the popular choice, or the easy out.

Give me Jesus! The One who chose the cross when I chose the crowd.The One who loved me loud enough to die in my silence. And may my life, every word, every step, every yes, be my answer to a world still shouting, “Give us Barabbas.”

Because I’ve already made my choice.

Give me Jesus!