In our passage yesterday in Luke 23, we saw Jesus take the place of a man named Barabbas. Barabbas was found guilty for murder and was deserving of death. Pilate gave the crowd the choice to release Jesus or Barabbas. With bloodthirsty hatred, the crowd asked for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be crucified! Jesus, who was found innocent would die in place of the guilty! Not only would Jesus do this for Barabbas but it is to be a picture of what He has done on our behalf as well. The righteous dying for the unrighteous in order to bring us to God!
In Mark's gospel, Barabbas is described as a "rebel in prison". That is a great word picture for everyone of us. We have all been in rebellion against God's name, character and holiness. We have been in rebellion to His kingly authority. This is our condition because of our sinful nature - we find ourselves in prison to sin. We are slaves to sin with no way to release ourselves from its bondage and condemnation. I, like Barabbas, was a 'rebel in prison' but instead of me getting what I deserve - Jesus Christ was my substitutionary sacrifice. He took my place, my debt and my death.
Throughout the sermon yesterday I quoted from an old hymn called "My song is love unknown". You know a song is great when the lyrics always stay with you. This is one of those songs for me. The most worshipful rendition of the song I have ever heard is done by Fernando Ortega. Here are the lyrics:
My song is love unknown, my Savior's love to me
Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be
Oh, who am I that for my sake,
Oh, who am I that for my sake,
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?
He came from heaven's throne salvation to bestow
But they refused and none the longed-for Christ would know
This is my friend, my friend indeed,
This is my friend, my friend indeed,
Who at my need, His life did spend.
Sometimes they crowd His way and His sweet praises sing
Resounding all the day, hosannas to their King
Then, "Crucify!" is all their breath,
Then, "Crucify!" is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what has my Lord done to cause this rage and spite
He made the lame to run, and gave the blind their sight
What injuries, yet these are why,
What injuries, yet these are why,
The Lord Most High so cruelly dies.
With angry shouts they have my dear Lord done away
A murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay
Yet willingly, He bears the shame,
Yet willingly, He bears the shame,
That through His name all might be free.
Here might I stay and sing of Him my soul adores
Never was love, dear King, never was grief like Yours
This is my friend in whose sweet praise,
This is my friend in whose sweet praise,
I, all my days would gladly spend.
btw, if interested you can download the song on Amazon for 99 cents or for a better deal download Ortega's 'Beginnings' cd - 2 cd set of 34 songs for only 8.99.
