There was a bandit convicted for murder, theft, rape and many wicked
deeds. He was to be crucified that day. He had no emotions, he had
prepared himself. For a long time, he had expected this. Yet, as the
reality of the cross dawned on him, he trembled. He too had fear of
death.
Then something unexpected happened - The guard came early that
morning and set him free!!"How the Jews must love you. They appealed
to the governor to set you free, and the governor has granted their
wish," said the guard,"You are a free man".
The murderer could not believe his ears! How could he be free? What
about the many cases against him? - all proven beyond any doubt. And
the Jews like him? - no way! He had robbed and killed the Jews all
his life. For that matter, he was sure no one loved him.
This murderer was Barabbas. Bewildered by his freedom, and driven by
his curiousity, he went to the Calvary, where he was to be nailed to
the cross. There he found three men nailed to their crosses. The two
men on either side, he knew, they were his accomplices. Shuddering at
their fate, his eyes rested on the person in the middle, whom he had
never seen before. He was in great pain, blood flowing from his hands
and legs nailed to the cross; yet Barabbas saw a strange serenity in
the passion of this man.
Barabbas had lived with criminals all his life, he was sure at the
first sight that this man was definitely not one of them. His
curiosity drew him closer to the cross, though he was afraid to come
too close because of the guards; but he was close enough to hear the
words from the cross in the middle -"Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do". 'Surely this man is different', Barabbas told
himself. He later heard the Centurion say the same thing -"He surely
was the Son of God."
In the next few days, Barabbas heard the entire story. He also
realised that this man named Jesus was the reason why he was not on
the cross that day. Once again the sight of Jesus struggling for life
on the Cross, yet praying for his tormentors came to Barabbas's mind
and he cried bitterly.
He realised one truth - 'Jesus loves me inspite of me being a
wretched sinner.'He was one of the three thousand persons baptised on
Pentecost.
I am no different from Barabbas, and I too realise that the man on
the Cross in the middle is the reason why I am not on it.
Daiva sneham varnicheedan Vakkukal pora,
Nanni cholli theerkuvaan ee jeevitham pora.
Mathew
Queens,
NY
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/2821
deeds. He was to be crucified that day. He had no emotions, he had
prepared himself. For a long time, he had expected this. Yet, as the
reality of the cross dawned on him, he trembled. He too had fear of
death.
Then something unexpected happened - The guard came early that
morning and set him free!!"How the Jews must love you. They appealed
to the governor to set you free, and the governor has granted their
wish," said the guard,"You are a free man".
The murderer could not believe his ears! How could he be free? What
about the many cases against him? - all proven beyond any doubt. And
the Jews like him? - no way! He had robbed and killed the Jews all
his life. For that matter, he was sure no one loved him.
This murderer was Barabbas. Bewildered by his freedom, and driven by
his curiousity, he went to the Calvary, where he was to be nailed to
the cross. There he found three men nailed to their crosses. The two
men on either side, he knew, they were his accomplices. Shuddering at
their fate, his eyes rested on the person in the middle, whom he had
never seen before. He was in great pain, blood flowing from his hands
and legs nailed to the cross; yet Barabbas saw a strange serenity in
the passion of this man.
Barabbas had lived with criminals all his life, he was sure at the
first sight that this man was definitely not one of them. His
curiosity drew him closer to the cross, though he was afraid to come
too close because of the guards; but he was close enough to hear the
words from the cross in the middle -"Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do". 'Surely this man is different', Barabbas told
himself. He later heard the Centurion say the same thing -"He surely
was the Son of God."
In the next few days, Barabbas heard the entire story. He also
realised that this man named Jesus was the reason why he was not on
the cross that day. Once again the sight of Jesus struggling for life
on the Cross, yet praying for his tormentors came to Barabbas's mind
and he cried bitterly.
He realised one truth - 'Jesus loves me inspite of me being a
wretched sinner.'He was one of the three thousand persons baptised on
Pentecost.
I am no different from Barabbas, and I too realise that the man on
the Cross in the middle is the reason why I am not on it.
Daiva sneham varnicheedan Vakkukal pora,
Nanni cholli theerkuvaan ee jeevitham pora.
Mathew
Queens,
NY
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/2821
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