"Barabbas"

"Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified." Matthew 27:26

At Bible study last night one of the men asked if we ever wondered what Barabbas did with his second chance. The Bible doesn't say anything about him after his release so we don't know what he did or what he became.

Let's look at Barabbas for a moment and see what the Bible does say about him. The scriptures are very plain about what kind of man he was. He was notorious, a murderer, a rebel and a thief- he was the worst of the worst. He was sentenced to death and awaiting his time of execution. He was released from prison, not because he deserved to be, not because of his own goodness or righteousness, and not because he was found to be innocent- he was guilty of every crime brought against him. The only reason he was released and set free was because Jesus was crucified in his place. And like my brother said last night, he was given a second chance.

Barabbas represents us all. We are the "worst of the worst"- we are all sinners who have come short of the glory of God. We are all under the death sentence and awaiting punishment. Like him, we too deserved death but Jesus died in our place. It was through Jesus' death that we were pardoned and set free- not by our own works of righteousness and not because we deserved to be. We have also been given a second chance.

We may not can answer the question about what Barabbas did with his second chance and new lease on life, but we can answer the question as it pertains to us. Jesus died in our place and gave us a second chance. Have you taken advantage of that chance to be free from your sins? Are you putting your faith and trust in Jesus as your Savior and Lord? If so, the question then becomes personal- "What are YOU doing with your second chance?" Are you living it for self or for the One who freed you?

Have a great day. We have all been given a second chance at life because Jesus took our place in death. What are you doing with your second chance?

For further reading:
Romans 3:10,23; 6:23
Isaiah 64:6
Ephesians 2:8,9
Titus 3:5
1 Peter 3:18
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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