You know that I am a huge fan of the Andy Griffith show. One episode I watched recently shows Floyd, the barber, caught in a lie. Being a part of a Lonely Hearts Club, he portrayed himself as a rich millionaire. In this episode, he gets a letter from the woman he’s been deceiving, saying she’s coming to see him. He’s sick with himself for lying to her and keeps walking up to the mirror saying, “Floyd Lawson – I’m ashamed of you! You’re nothing but a liar, cheat and a scoundrel!”
If we’re really honest about our selves, we could all look at our reflection and say the same thing. Of course in the Bible we learn that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We’re all sinful scoundrels, aren’t we? I came face to face with this yesterday morning as I was reading John 18:38-40 and it was all so very plain before me. The passage says,
“Pilate saith unto him (Jesus), What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
Reading that “Barabbas was a robber.” is like the Lord wanted us to see the stark contrast. Here is Jesus – sinless and innocent, but the crowd wanted Barabbas released, but he was a robber. What if my name was there? It could be. “No, don’t release Jesus – not this man, but release Denise. Now Denise was a sinner. A myriad of sins could be put on that blank.
Do you see yourself there, Friend? Your name and mine could replace Barabbas’ because we stand just as guilty! Oh, what a Savior to die in our place! As you look to Easter, just ahead, take time to thank the Lord that you went free!
RefreshHer 