We are Barabbas

By Scot Longyear

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion. - Jn 18

Barabbas. A rebel. Maybe a killer.  Perhaps a derelict of society.  An outcast.  He would possibly die for his crimes.  I wonder what he thought in prison.  “Well, this is it.  I screwed it up so bad that this might be the end. If they don’t kill me, I might as well kill myself because I will be a prisoner for a long time.”  Maybe he thought of escape.  Maybe he played with the idea of killing the guard and running away.  Maybe he had given up hope. “I messed this up, now I am responsible to pay for my actions.”  Maybe he tried to think of a loophole.  There was none.  Or was there?

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