John 18:37-40 … Still asking for Barabbas (03/25/16)
“And Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, ‘So are you a king?’ And Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king, but not I. For I was born to testify to the Truth, and to testify to the Truth I came into the world. Everyone who follows the Truth listens to my voice.” And Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” … And after he had asked this, he went out again to the Jews gathered below and told them, “I find no case against [Jesus]. And yet there is a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release Jesus for you?’ And those gatehred there shouted in reply, “Not Jesus, but Barabbas!” Barabbas, who was a bandit.”. ~ John 18:37-40
So here we are on our next Good Friday, roughly 2013 years after this most momentous instant in human history; this infamous flash of opportunity where humanity had the choice between awakening to a Jesusian Society founded in selfless LOVE & humble Respect, or sinking into our next Dark Epoch of wickedness & corruption & despair … Of course, we all know how the story ended, and we all know that our species has suffered immesnely ever since.
And yet what baffles me to no end is how so many Christians — in a less-than-delicious display of irony — are still denying the teachings of their Christ; how so many of them are still asking for Barabbas to this very day …
*Indeed, instead of asking for Jesus in the form of giving to the poor, so many of them ask for Barabbas in the form of opening savings accounts while ignoring the homeless in their midst.
*Instead of asking for Jesus in the form of forgiving those who have trespassed against them, they ask for Barabbas in the form of gossiping about those they least like &/or denigrating those who gossip about them.
Instead of asking for Jesus in the form of being consciously Kind to their sentient cousins, they ask for Barabbas in the form of stuffing their faces with the tortured flesh of innocent animals and filling their stomachs with their secretions raped & stolen.
And instead of asking for Jesus in the form of reaching out to their enemies (these days, most ostensibly Muslims) , they ask for Barabbas in the form of calling Muslims “Muzzies” — or punching their faces — or threatening them with deportation — or demanding that they & their families be hunted & killed.
Yes, these are sad times to be sure, my dear Friends, and it is ever-so-clear that we humans are still deeply mired in an Age that is quite Dark & morosely foreboding indeed … And yet our hope lis in the fact that this darkness is essentially 100% of our own making –. and as such, this same darkness can be dispelled by our hands as well.
And to do so, we ALL — regardless of our religious beliefs (or lack thereof) — simply have to stop choosing Barabbas in our everyday lives; and have the raw faith & immense courage to enliven The Way of Jesus Christ instead.
Amen — Please let it be so.
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” ~ Jesus Christ (Luke 6:27-36)
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