Tuesday after 2nd Last - A Devotion

 Devotion for Tuesday after 2nd Last 

Jeremiah 33:1-22       Matthew 27:11-32

You have read the words of this passage from Matthew before, probably heard it read from the lectern in your congregation. But a portion of it is very interesting.

15 Now at the Passover Feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed Him over.

19 And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “See that you have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to put Jesus to death. 21 And the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate *said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all *said, “Crucify Him!” 23 But he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” Yet they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

Barabbas is an interesting name, and in this context shows Divine providence, it is a prophecy. Bar = son of... Abba(s) = father or daddy. Barabbas therefore means, son of the father.

I pray that you have made the connection already. This text is a living prophecy pointing to you, dear Christian.

It is the True "Son of the Father" who is innocent, yet goes to the cross. He suffers there as the sacrificial payment for the sin of the "notorious prisoner" so that he might be freed.

You and I do not deserve to be called the "children of God" and yet we are. You become bar-abba(s), Son of the Father in Christ. Baptized into His death you are freed from death, freed from you bondage to sin. You are made alive in Christ Jesus, freed to live out in freedom the life of repentant joy - in loving thankfulness to God, in service to your neighbor.

Thanks be to God for the Son of the Father, who has united us to Himself, that we might be called the sons of God.


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