A young man squatted in a dingy prison cell. The deep shadows of his dark imprisonment hid his features. Only a thin plane of sunlight penetrated the darkness, revealing countless dust particles floating around rows of disheartened men. He sat away from the light and stared motionlessly into the darkness.
The execution site, where condemned men met their end, stood on a hill outside the prison. Today would be this man’s turn. In a way, death was a welcome ending to his pain. However, more strongly, the condemned man felt the fear of death’s mysteries. His soul, it seems, had died long ago, but the fear of physical death consumed every fiber of his being.
As he waited in the cruel anticipation of a violent death, his mind raced across his life. What would have made a difference? What could have changed his inclination towards evil? He could only toss these questions into his universe of despair. As always, he knew no answers would come. There was no hope; never had there been hope.
Slowly and ever more increasingly, the young man realized the sounds of a great number of voices. Shouts and roars filled the air, but he couldn’t recognize any of the words. The sounds increased and erupted past him like a gigantic ocean wave. An enormous mass of shouting people had passed just outside his cell and were proceeding toward Execution Hill. The time was near. The man could not remember so great a crowd ever having gathered to witness a death before.
Just then, someone slammed the outside door of the prison hard against the wall. Keys jiggled and someone unlocked the main security door. Prison guards streamed towards his cell. The hopeless man trembled and recoiled in fear. Death was pouncing upon him.
The guards unlocked his cell and converged upon him like many wild tigers. They seized him and drug him out into the morning sunlight outside the prison. After they cleared the outside door of the prison, they slammed him face down hard on the ground. The impact knocked him into a daze. In a semi-unconscious state, he waited for the first slapping sting of the lashing whip.
After a while, his senses quickened, and he slowly opened his eyes, spitting dust from his mouth. He tilted his head slowly, expecting his flesh to be ripped open at any moment.
Amazingly, he was alone.
People flowed in masses towards Execution Hill, but no one bothered him on the ground.
Slowly at first, but with increasing urgency, the freed man got up and made his way into a building, across the block from the prison. Looking around as he fled, he expected his fantasy to end at any moment. He made it to the dwelling and flung himself, sobbing, to the ground.
After a long while, the man could no longer contain his curiosity. He left the building and circled around the back of Execution Hill. He came up upon the crowd and mixed himself safely among the masses. With great effort, he fought his way through until he could see what the commotion was all about.
Three men hung dying on crosses, the pain etched across their faces. Two of the men he knew from his time in prison, but he didn’t recognize the man on the middle cross. He seemed much weaker and closer to death than the others.
The freed man stood watching the dying man. He saw blood streaming down the wood of His cross. A strange magnetism drew his soul to Him. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Him.
Their eyes met. Though he was among a mass of people, the Man on the middle cross was looking directly at him. The dying Man’s eyes were not desperate, but peaceful and loving.
After a few moments, the freed man turned and walked away. As he fought his way back through the crowd, he overheard someone asking about the Man on the middle cross, “Why are they killing him? What has he done?”
“He’s done nothing wrong,” the answer came. “He’s dying in place of a man set free.”
Exchanged Life
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2nd Corinthians 5:21)
What would it feel like to find ourselves in a prison cell, sentenced to die? Yet, being released at the last hour for another to die in our place. A Man free of wrong, willing to die for us. This is the story of Barabbas. This is our story.
Prayer
O Lord, as we approach the celebration of Your resurrection day, we pause to fully appreciate Your obedient, cruel death on a Roman cross to reconcile us to You. We can’t live a perfect life, but You did and You were willing to die in our place. Thank You.
We pray for those in our lives who are close to us and far from You. May their hearts and minds be enlightened by Your love. May they come to saving knowledge by believing in You.
I pray these things in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Reflections
As I write, it’s Maundy Thursday, the day we celebrate the Lord’s last Passover meal with His disciples, commonly referred to as the Last Supper.
I recently discovered that the word ‘maundy’ comes from the Latin word which means commandment – mandatum. It’s where we get our English word – mandate.
Today is a reminder of what Jesus said to His disciples after He washed their feet.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35).
He repeated this new command later, in John 15:9-12. Here, He tells us that God loves us as much as the Father loves Him. He tells us to remain, to dwell, to stay, to tarry in His love, where God has placed us. [1] And He says that if we love others with the quality of love He has shown us, we will remain in His love and will be filled with His complete joy. 😊
What a powerful summary command for us to shape our lives around.
And until today, I never knew this command is the crowning remembrance of Maundy Thursday.
[1] I Corinthians 1:30
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all referenced Scripture is from the NASB 1995 Version of the Bible.
Other posts in our Everlasting Way Series:
Learning How to Overcome Emotional Numbness
Are we More Like Batman or Spider-Man
Transforming Awareness: The Power of God’s Love
Celebrating with Joy – In Memory of a Friend
Loving without Expecting Anything in Return
Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.
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Nonfiction books by the Author:
This collection of devotionals chronicles a heartfelt journey from a life of striving and self-reliance to one of growing surrender and trust in God.
Through personal stories of family struggles, cancer, grief, and unexpected trials, the devotions show that true, unshakeable joy comes not from perfect circumstances, but from the constant, loving presence of Jesus Christ.
It’s an invitation to learn to let go of our burdens and find growing peace in God’s greater story.
Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn’t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God’s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.
For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It’s not just a good idea, it’s vital to our journey as human beings. Rhythms of Joy
Novels by the Author:
What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for? Beyond Time
By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowingly set off a series of events which uncovers a plot to wipe out a whole family. Hope Remains
Please Check out the Cola City Podcast . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.