Who Really Got What He Wanted?
Pilate himself wanted to be accepted and satisfy the crowd. The crowd wanted Jesus crucified. Jesus wanted to set the captives free and Barabbas wanted to get out of prison. Who really got what they wanted?
Well, Pilate didn't totally believe in the choice he made. He wanted to set Jesus free, but also wanted to be satisfy the crowd. He couldn't have it both ways so he only got half of what he wanted.
Then there's the crowd, and more specifically the chief priests, who wanted Jesus to go away and not be a problem for them anymore. They may have thought they got what they wanted, but not only did Jesus come back from the dead, His resurrection started a revolution that multiplied beyond anything the priests and crowds had to deal with before. So in reality, they never got rid of Jesus so they didn't get what they wanted.
Barabbas got what he wanted though. He wanted to live. He wanted to be free. He got both - because of Jesus. And millions of others as bad or worse than that murderer Barabbas have found life and freedom because of Jesus.
Which means that Jesus got what he wanted too. He wanted people to believe, to trust in Him, to be set free, to find life in Him - and we have.
You and I were just like Barabbas at one point....guilty, hopeless, sentenced to die. And yet, somehow, someone named Jesus gave us AND HIM exactly what we both wanted: Life and Freedom. Remember that next time you think you didn't get what you wanted.
Created over 1 year ago
