Barabbas

From We Were There

By Sarah A. O'Malley and Robert D. Elmer

BARABBAS: Call me Jesus Barabbas or whatever name you like. I was part of a rebellion against the Romans that failed miserably. My only success was to kill a few of them before they captured me. Jerusalem knew me. I was a hero in the eyes of many of my people. Now the Romans were going to make an example of me, a leader of zealots. It would be the slow torturous death of crucifixion in typical Roman style.

I was brought before a shouting crowd along with another prisoner: Jesus of Nazareth. Strange that we both had the same first name. Pilate was offering the crowd the choice of freeing Jesus the Nazarene or Jesus Barabbas. It was my lucky day. They shouted for my freedom and his death. Frankly, I didn't understand this Jesus of Nazareth. He had no passion, no hatred for the Romans. He acted like a docile sheep when they mocked him and spat in his face. This strange rabbi accepted the cross without a murmur, as if he was predestined to carry it. Well, I shouldn't complain. I became a free man, free to go underground again, awaiting the opportunity to drive the Romans from our land.

Yes, I was there when Jesus of Nazareth took my place on the cross.

How about you?  Were you in the crowd that Friday?