Sunday School Session: Resurrection Sunday

My dad used to say, “it’s all just a bunch of words unless they say something,” which rings home the need to choose one’s words with a certain measure of thought toward how they will achieve the purpose of communication. So, on this Resurrection Sunday when we celebrate the magnitude of God’s love for us and for all, I offer a suggestion of remembrance for the purpose of greater meanings. You see, it is my personal quest to discover, develop and establish a closer relationship and better understanding of God. And perhaps, if given the chance, maybe some of you will follow in a similar pursuit, for at least just a little bit. It is in that quest that I present two statements:

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1. Jesus, the Messiah, my Savior, God’s Christ did not die for me.

2. I am Barabas.​

 

I realize that based on what has been said, many will focus on the first statement made and that focus for the most part will be a measure of disagreement. I will address that issue in a bit; however, the easiest way to communicate intent, attitude, idea, concept, etc. is to first address the second statement.

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Barabas, we all know the name, we all know the Gospels label him a murderer. But let’s do a little more discovery into this individual. Hollywood has tried to softened his description by suggesting he was some kind of heroic insurrectionist, combating against Roman soldiers in an almost noble way. Where as in reality, he really was a cold-blooded murderer. He did kill some Roman soldiers, that is why he was in jail, but he killed a lot more Jews. He was a thug, bully, extortionist, thief and murderer. His primary victims were the Jews; Jewish merchants, Jewish peasants as well as Temple elites, all were targets for his greed and outright cruel assaults.

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In short, he was about the furthest thing from a nice guy, hero, champion of the people as you could get. Perhaps even the term “a real scum bag” would barely establish his proper social status. Now then, Pontius Pilate being the aspiring politician he was, knew all this, it is why Barabas was specifically presented as the choice, as opposed to any of the other prisoners that were currently being held in Roman prisons. Think about it. There were many to choose from, Roman jails were ripe for the picking of criminals; Barabas was the specific one chosen. Pilate knew many of the Jewish people did not think highly of Barabas and they were in fact thankful that he was in Roman custody and off the streets. Pilate assumed the people would respond in a self-serving manner and choose to release the passive Guy who did no harm and performed miracles and keep their societal enemy and literal nemesis behind bars. However, God’s will, will be done, regardless.

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Now I will preface my next statements by saying I do not have a criminal record in any city, county, state or country. My comparisons are all going to be in direct relationship as to how Jesus fulfilled the law through His explanation of the commandments and laws; meaning the will of God.

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As Jesus explains within the portion of the scriptures called “The Sermon on the Mount,” in the Gospel of Matthew 5:21 Jesus states, “ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit murder; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement: But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement:” Being unjustly angry with, holding on to a hate toward and/or wishing harm upon one of God’s fellow children is in fact the same as committing murder in God’s eyes. In keeping with the higher understanding of the same, I cannot deny that on more than one occasion I could be found in possession of one or more of those murder weapons; the traits, attitudes and thoughts that Jesus identified as the same as murder. So, I too, am a murderer.

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All of that said then brings me to the only logical conclusion, I am Barabas. And with that confession, I come to realize that Jesus, the Messiah did not die for me, He died instead of me. I am the convicted murderer worthy of being put to death, but Jesus was the one crucified, instead of me. I am the one, the vile scourge of society, the cruel and malicious scum bag that should be hanging on that tree. But all can look and see; beaten, torn, bloodied, humiliated and rejected, it is God’s Christ, my Messiah, dying there, instead of me. That was supposed to be me, that is what I deserved, that is my sentence to be served, yet it is Jesus instead. Jesus took my place, Jesus died instead of me. Now, maybe some do not place a significant difference between the two simple terms “for” and “instead,” which may or may not be worth debate. In my quest the difference makes it more personal, the difference makes it very specific, the difference means I AM the one responsible. And although I do pray for the souls of others, my soul is the only one God sees when He is looking at me. And I do take that personal.

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So, once again I repeat, Jesus, the Messiah, my Savior, God’s Christ did not die for me, He died instead of me. And I wish that ended the story, ended the analogy, finalized my similarities to Barabas, but it does not. For the trail to Jesus’ death and resurrection did not begin at the cross, it began with being betrayed by a friend, being hit and mocked by strangers, scourged and humiliated publicly. The suffering of God’s Christ was a prophesied requirement, a foretold mandate, an absolute necessity to fulfil all scriptures that identifies and qualifies Him as the one and only, actual Messiah.

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How many times have I denied His friendship? Far more than Peter, I am sure. How many times in public did I treat Him as a stranger? A little compromise here, a little compromise there, who will really notice anyway? How many times did I think it to too embarrassing to declare His name, or at least not now, not in this crowd, maybe later? Wait staff has delivered the meal, other family members present, other co-workers present, other friends present, it would make THEM feel uncomfortable if I was to give thanks, so let’s just move on to more shallow conversations.

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In many ways Jesus fulfilled the law, He expounded on its meaning, its purpose, its application to our world. Throughout the Bible we are told what the actual priorities of God, our Father, Creator and Sustainer of all things hold for obtaining appropriate living standards. Repeatedly, time after time, from front to rear covers, the Bible teaches us, it is our thoughts, our wishes, our desires, our intentions and even our expectations that are the core evidence of our dedication and service toward our God. And that is the fulfillment of the Law.

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When Satan is able to con us into thinking just our physical actions are sin, or that our personal achievements are more important than God’s eternal rewards, we separate ourselves from God, we dwell in sin, we are worthy of judgement. And that judgement could be dangerously close to resolving our souls, the soul which is from God, the soul which allows us in part to be with God, that is the soul endanger of hell’s condemnation. For that is the death of Satan, caused by sin segregating us from God, which is the very definition of hell. Satan’s goal, the separation of our soul from God, for God and sin do not mingle, God is free of sin, to live in sin is to live in the absence of God. And that is the truly bottomless pit of hell.

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Okay, back on task, death was not the beginning of God’s Christ substitution. When Jesus was scourged, how many of those lashes did He endure instead of me? He suffered 39 from a flagrum whip. A five-corded whip with iron nails and rocks, glass shards and thorns imbedded within each cord ensuring maximum tears and cuts with each stripe survived. The maximum number of lashes in Roman law was stated to be 39, for all agreed that 40 would kill an average man, and that fate was reserved for a more public means of torture, the cross. For what cause would each stripe God’s Christ received mean that I did not have to suffer, because He suffered them, instead of me?

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There are ten laws written in stone, ten rules to live by, a simple ten commandments that in writing do not seem all that difficult to comply with. How many and how many times are my failures the reason Jesus was forced to endure the whip?

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Exodus 20:3. I love You, oh Lord my God, with all my heart, soul, mind, strength, will, determination and courage; there are no other gods, there are no gods before You. That is the first and foremost commandment I am supposed to live by.

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Yet, sometimes my thoughts and desires conveniently forget God, maybe even forsake God in order to achieve my personal goals. I find myself longing, wanting, desiring flesh rewards more so than trusting in God’s timing. On other occasions, under alternate circumstances I see others whom God also created and loves and my thoughts are not those of acceptance. They are sometimes avoidance, and sometimes disdain. Where is my proof of my love for God if I do not love all of His creation?

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The first three lashes are served not deserved, Jesus endures, instead of me.

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Exodus 20:4. I will not make any graven images to worship. I will not participate in, assist, abide, take part or in any way, shape or form have anything to do with any kind of idolatry. You are an awesome and almighty, glorious God and there is nothing made of man that can even come close to resembling You. As such, the nearest thing I have is my spirit, so in the spirit I will worship, praise, thank and glorify You. This one, written in stone, intended for us to follow.

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And yet sometimes I do serve mammon as opposed to God. Sometimes my personal quest to succeed rationalizes my reach for the gold ring is only a temporary thing, so that is okay. Yes, I am periodically distracted by the shinny object and that does consume my priorities.

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Three more tears rip across Jesus’ back, instead of mine.

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Exodus 20:7. I will not use Your name in vain. You are so awesome, You are so magnificent, You are so almighty, even Your name I will revere.

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I sometimes wonder what others hear from my mouth. Is there vanity in my speech that is contrary to what God would rather I say? Is it vanity when what I do and say is not aligned with the name I claim? If I say I am Your servant but follow not Your commands, how have I entreated Your name? What is it I have presented that promotes Your name with integrity, honor and respect?

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Slashes seven, eight and nine, our Messiahs blood instead of mine is flowing dark and red.

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Exodus 20:8. I will remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. For in six days, You created the heavens and the Earth, and on the seventh You rested, as an example to Your flesh creation of its needs. As well, Your only begotten Son, Jesus the Messiah, is worthy, and has become the Sabbath, and in Him I do rest, and He is holy indeed.

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God did it all, and then God rested. God finished the task completely and then God rested. Nothing was left to be done and then God rested. How many times have I said, “I will get to that tomorrow,” “I will pick up after myself, later,” “I’ll just take a little break and then I will finish.” How often do I/have I failed to follow God’s example, to follow God’s commandment? Or how many times do I just not care about all God has created? Maybe ignore the beauty of a day because I am caught up in my concerns about tomorrow. Perhaps holding a disdain for rain, or maybe the heat, unless it is hatred of the snow and ice, or the wind or the humidity. How many times do I look at God’s creation with less than the amazement it deserves.

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We can hear the whip crack, ten through twelve, as our Saviors body is brutely and cruelly punished past pain, instead of mine.

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Exodus 20:12. I will honor my father and my mother. For it was they that You provided as my first instructors in becoming one of Your children, thank You for them.

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I sometimes think to myself, “I am safe on this one.” My memories of my parents are held in a love and admiration for them both. However, what is honor without example? Do I maintain the measure of humility as my father regardless of other’s influence? Do I practice the compassion of my mother toward all of God’s creation? Do I fail in the patience for tomorrow as I perceive a need to be anxious? Where is my integrity, of honor in my examples if I do not accept all of their instructions?

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Crack the whip 13, 14 and 15, further tearing the torn, further stripping away flesh, further insisting on the physical pain endured by Jesus, His blood is beginning to pool on the ground, instead of mine.

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Exodus 20:13. I will not commit murder. I will not have an attitude of hate or harm toward any of Your creation.

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For whom have I prayed for, that is not family or friend? For which enemy of mine has a sincere request for their souls been made? How many times has my imagination wondered toward “if only they felt the pain I am in.” Yes, my failures are many, my lack of restraint self-induced, my lack of excuses constantly blinded by rationalizations, of course I am guilty, of course I am the murderer as explained by Jesus. And of course, Jesus takes my place and will be crucified, instead of me.

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Exodus 20:14. I will not commit adultery. You are an awesome and almighty, gloriously generous God and You have provided me the most appropriate women to be my wife, and I will be faithful, lusting for no other women. For lust is Satan’s imitation of Your love, only it can never be satisfied, it will never be fulfilled. I seek the true contentment found only in Your love.

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Faithfulness is a slyly deceitful tactic for Satan. He often tries to blind us with the shinny object called the flesh, forcing focus on but one thing, as if it is the only thing. What is faithfulness without dedication, what is faithfulness without loyalty, what is faithfulness without empathy, sympathy, compassion and concern. Is faithfulness possible without a caring, nurturing, supportive heart? How faithful is it when there is one person on this planet that can irritate you more so than anyone else, and we call that love? How faithful are those attitudes, how dedicated are those thoughts, how respectful, how loyal, how loving are those emotions, feelings, assumed and rationalized okay thoughts?

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Another three rips and tears slashing across His back, blood now flowing unrestrained. Jesus holds his tongue all the while, as He takes those stripes, instead of me.

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Exodus 20:15. I will not steal. You are an awesome and almighty, gloriously generous God and You know all of our needs, our wants and our desires and only through Your love and wisdom can that which is in our best interests truly be provided. I will wait and trust in You.

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And yet sometimes my patience wears thin. Sometimes my desires exceed my wish for God’s wisdom to be applied. Sometimes I want stuff bad and bad enough to allow my morality and ethics to become rather situational. Is it stealing to simply mislead the auto dealer into thinking a trade in is more valuable than true? After all, they are a used car dealer, it is what they deserve. Is it stealing to present a personal preference as a requirement for others, is the truth a commodity to be bartered?

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Crack 19, crack 20, crack 21, Jesus is beginning to go limp, Jesus is losing his ability to even respond to the pain, Jesus is there, Jesus endures it all, instead of me.

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Exodus 20:16. I will not bare false witness against anyone. That would be lying, and Satan is a liar and the father of liars. I am one of Your children.

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How often are “white lies” an acceptable response? How often do I rationalize the truth would be more harmful than good? How often do I simply “tell them what they want to hear.” Is a tiny lie, a lie? Do we really think Satan cares what magnitude of tall tale we tell? For if Satan is your father, where is God in your life?

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Gashes and slashes 22 through 27, more warranted I am sure compared to my number of crimes, His head is no longer able to rise, the blood pool around Him is enlarged, that is what Jesus suffers, instead of me.

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Exodus 20:17. I will not covet the possessions of anyone else. Instead, I will share in their joy and praise, glorifying and thanksgiving of You, for Your generosity upon them.

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Neighbors got a new tractor; I sure would like a new tractor. That guy got a new ATV, I bet he has a grandpa that just died. If only God would see all the ways I deserve the blessings He somehow is granting to others? Why does He not realize just how worthy I am? How much self-pity does it take to be more bitter than grateful? “If onlys” are only one more way I fail my Lord.

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28, 29 and 30, what possibilities besides God’s power allows Jesus to endure all of this, instead of me.

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And what of all those things Jesus the Messiah, our Savior, God’s Christ commanded us to do, in order to be found as one of His disciples and not just a lip-service, wannabe, con artist? You know, those commandments he said we are to follow in order to receive our requests in His name along with our hope in our faith of His salvation.

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Mark 11:25. I will forgive, for I so need Your forgiveness, so I will not hold any grudges. And yet, somehow, I just can’t let go of those things which offended me.

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31 slaps and drags across Jesus’ back, instead of mine.

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Luke 6:36. I will be merciful, for I so rely on Your mercy. And yet, instead of looking for all the ways others live in your will, I only see their faults.

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32 tears the torn flesh, bone already shown on Jesus, instead of me.

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Matthew 7:1. I will not judge for I so cannot afford to be judged by You. And yet, my measures of justice seem to constantly cloud my opinions of others.

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Lashes 33 and 34 are landed, what could possibly be left to strike that is not already gaping wide on Jesus, instead of me.

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John 13:34. And I will obtain and maintain the attitude of agape toward Your creation. The compassionate, caring, giving, charitable love as was taught by Your only begotten Son, Jesus the Messiah.

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Crack again goes the whip, relentlessly pummeling wounds already bore and bare on Jesus, instead of me.

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How many more lashes are there left to be endured, not as many as all the ways of my failures, again and again. All the ways, all the times, all the manners in which my flesh establishes my actions, my ego determines my intentions, all for my personally satisfied ill will.

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One more for all I failed to recall and another for all I desire to forget, yet all are received by Jesus, instead of me.

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Completed and finished, one last lash is planted and gouges across the Messiah’s back and the whip is finally stayed. Do not visualize 39 stripes. The 5-corded whip would have left at least 195 rips, tears, and gaping wide wounds. Yet even with that count, we all know more would be justly deserved had it been me instead. And the blood pool continues to fill; the skin, muscle, bone and sinew exposed, as he is yanked up by soldiers and shoved toward the exit for a parade to His death. Prior to exit, a mocking crown of thorns is crammed upon His head ripping and tearing deep into His brow. Ensuring the blood is flowing from head to toe, from start to finish. Full compliance Jesus satisfied, wholly, totally, without reservation, leaving no doubt of His commitment to God’s cause, and that cause must be fulfilled by Jesus, instead of me.

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I was the one who was to be humiliated by being paraded naked through the streets. I should have been jeered and mocked, called names, pushed and shoved. I was the one that should have been bloodied and bruised, forced to bear the weight of my own means of execution. I was the one that should have had my possessions taken and distributed to those causing me harm. I was the one who was supposed to be laid upon the timbers, arms outstretched and with the hammers blow upon the nails, my body fastened to a tree and posted high upon the hill for all to see. But it was Jesus that was crucified, instead of me.

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Now as was stated by Jesus, the Son of God, it is finished, completed, satisfied, done. His death was final, His death was the end of life living in the flesh. His death left nothing left, nothing more to sacrifice. His death was as God intended and that death, His death was a requirement. And Jesus took that task, fulfilled all scriptures and prophesies and accepted God’s will for Him to die, instead of me.

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And His body was taken down from the cross and placed within a tomb, entrance sealed and guards placed to ensure it was secure. Yet on the third day, early in the morning there is a witness; our Savior, our Redeemer, our Deliverer, our King, the Messiah was not bound by death, He was not held by the grave. He defeated Satan’s attempt to kill our souls, and as a true hero shown, He rose. And this is the morning we celebrate now and how glorious to know God’s only begotten Son does shine.

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But, if you will, let us add just a bit more to the full meaning of this morning. For the next forty days Jesus will show Himself to His disciples. During those encounters, as told in the Gospels, He will show His hands and side. All are invited to witness the holes, to touch and handle His side wound. Irrefutable proof will be provided. Our Lord, God’s Christ, the Messiah indeed succeeded over death.

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Do you know what was not seen, what was not shown, have you ever noticed what is never felt? It is a part not mentioned in any of the Gospels and is not brought up in the Acts of the Apostles. It is the part that produced the most blood, the part that was the most horrific portion of Jesus’ ordeal. No scars or marks from any of the lashes, no mention or remembrance of the thorny crown bloodying His brow. The part that was my sin, my failures, my offenses, my shame. That part is gone, that part is over, that part is blotted out and wiped clean, that part exists no more. The resurrection is not just my salvation it is my complete and total redemption from all the failures of my past. And that is the deliverance God’s Christ granted to me. My imperfection made perfect through Jesus, the Messiah, my Savior, God’s Christ. By His stripes, I am healed. Healed of my infirmities, healed of my iniquities, healed of my inadequacies, healed of Satan’s death of sin, separating me from the love of God.

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And as a direct result of that redemption, the direct result of that salvation, the direct result of that deliverance, mercy, grace and forgiveness, I am no longer Barabas. I am a new creation, a new creature, a new fellow member of a family called the children of God. And only one, simple, last command from Jesus to follow, to the best of my ability: “Go, and sin no more.”

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So, on those days, when all seems too drear and disdain holds a greater measure than joy, I do my best to recall a recollection of my stead, a place undeserved, a status not personally achieved. A reward that could have, should have, would have been for another, yet Jesus the Messiah, my Savior, God’s Christ endured it all, including the cross unto His death, instead of me.

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What grace have I been granted? What mercy have I received? How is my deserved judgement shrouded by His righteousness?

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What sacrifice has been provided? What life am I now allowed to achieve? What debt for my soul can I ever repay?

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My soul rages above all heavens, it screams throughout all destinies yet obtained; my God, my Father, my Heavenly, Almighty King, please hear my spirit’s cry;
GOD! Thank You.

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Amen

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God’s little lost lamb, you have been found.
Will you accept the Messiah’s forgiveness for all your sins?
Will you accept Jesus the Messiah as your Lord and Savior?
Will you do all you can to follow His commands in His truth and His love?
Then rise up child of God, welcome to the family.
Go and sin no more.