Scripture Luke 24:13-16, 28-31
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him….
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Reflection
These two disciples are disciples of Jesus. They walk with Him for seven miles and they don’t realise who He is.
Luke, writing some 50 years after the event, is teaching his community (and us) something crucial. Things aren’t always as they seem. We may think the Lord is absent, but in fact he is present. Truly present. It’s a real presence, not just a memory.
Luke is also teaching us that one of the most powerful experiences of the Risen Lord is in the Eucharist. That is where Jesus is specially present – in His words and in the breaking of the bread.
Note that the disciples didn’t recognise Him in His words (while they were on the way).
I need to think about that. Because that’s what I’m doing right now – reflecting on the Scriptures.
Could it be that the Risen Lord has been with me these past few minutes, and I haven’t realised it?
Could be.
Spend some quiet time with the Lord.
Comment
Some of the sites mentioned in the Gospels are difficult to locate today. For one thing, their names changed over time. Also there was not, in the early centuries, the same interest in pilgrimages that later developed.
Cana is an example of this – two different villages claim to be the site where Jesus changed water into wine.
Emmaus is another example. There is no known village that was called Emmaus at the time of Christ and is still called that today. Luke indicates that the village was ‘seven miles from Jerusalem’ – but unfortunately he doesn’t say in which direction. There are three villages today that claim to be the site.
********
It is a custom in some places to take an “Emmaus Walk” in the days following Easter.
The idea is to go out for a walk and greet and speak with anyone along the way, recognizing that it was by such a greeting that the two disciples on the road to Emmaus met the risen Christ.
Source: The Little White Book – reflections on the weekday Gospels of Easter 2008 – based upon the writings of Bishop Ken Untener
Showing posts with label Gospel of Luke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gospel of Luke. Show all posts
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Luke 24:28-35 - Road to Emmaus
Scripture Luke 24:28-35
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Comment
They are coming close to the village. Jesus appears to want to go on further and they press Him ‘please stay with us’.
So He stays.
In they go. Jesus sits down and then does this characteristic thing.
He takes bread and He breaks it He gives it to them and at that moment they see.
Were they beginning to see? Yes, through the scriptures.
But then in this climatic moment when Jesus breaks the bread now they understand. They recognise Him and at that moment He disappears.
Why did they recognise him? Because in the Eucharist they see the great pattern.
And then having surveyed the prophets and the Torah, He makes the mystery and the key as vividly present to them as He can.
Jesus took the bread, pronounced the blessing, and then broke the bread and began to distribute it to them, saying ‘This is my body given for you’
What is the Eucharist?
The making present of this love unto death.
The making present of the separation of the body and blood of Jesus.
Making present in the most vivid way possible of the mystery.
That’s why at the breaking of the bread they saw Him. They got Him.
It was no longer these disparate bits of information.
No, it all cohered around the pattern of love made clear in the Eucharist.
They got Him through the opening of the scriptures and the breaking of the bread.
How do you understand Jesus? Everything He said everything He did leading up to the Cross. How do you understand it?
You understand it as a life broken open in love and now the whole of His life becomes a pattern of meaning.
All of it is Eucharistic in structure and so in the breaking of the bread their eyes are opened.
The perfectly clarifying lenses are put before their eyes and they see Him for who He is.
How come He disappears?
How come Jesus doesn’t stay once they see Him?
The clue I think is in how they begin to move.
The story commences with the two of them walking the wrong way. Once they see Him, even though it is the middle of the night, a dangerous time to be travelling, even though they are far from Jerusalem. They set out and they head back in the right direction.
Once they saw Jesus, despite the late hour, despite the darkness, despite their fears, they go back to Jerusalem, they go back to the Eleven, they go back to the Church.
Jesus appears to us so as to empower us for mission.
He went to the Holy City and there He suffered the Cross.
Now those of us who see Him, who understand Him.
We must get up, even in dangerous times and we move now in the right direction back to Jerusalem having seen, now we walk.
Notice that the two disciples are not at all upset at the loss (again) of their leader.
In fact they are anxious to tell the apostles of their discovery
(source: http://www.scborromeo.org/biblestudies.htm)
So prospective evangelists, do what Jesus did. Walk with sinners, open the Book, break the Bread.
Source: Fr Robert Barron
Word on Fire
Compiled by the transcriptions of various mp3 sermons on this topic and an article on the same topic all found on his website.
http://wordonfire.org
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Comment
They are coming close to the village. Jesus appears to want to go on further and they press Him ‘please stay with us’.
So He stays.
In they go. Jesus sits down and then does this characteristic thing.
He takes bread and He breaks it He gives it to them and at that moment they see.
Were they beginning to see? Yes, through the scriptures.
But then in this climatic moment when Jesus breaks the bread now they understand. They recognise Him and at that moment He disappears.
Why did they recognise him? Because in the Eucharist they see the great pattern.
And then having surveyed the prophets and the Torah, He makes the mystery and the key as vividly present to them as He can.
Jesus took the bread, pronounced the blessing, and then broke the bread and began to distribute it to them, saying ‘This is my body given for you’
What is the Eucharist?
The making present of this love unto death.
The making present of the separation of the body and blood of Jesus.
Making present in the most vivid way possible of the mystery.
That’s why at the breaking of the bread they saw Him. They got Him.
It was no longer these disparate bits of information.
No, it all cohered around the pattern of love made clear in the Eucharist.
They got Him through the opening of the scriptures and the breaking of the bread.
How do you understand Jesus? Everything He said everything He did leading up to the Cross. How do you understand it?
You understand it as a life broken open in love and now the whole of His life becomes a pattern of meaning.
All of it is Eucharistic in structure and so in the breaking of the bread their eyes are opened.
The perfectly clarifying lenses are put before their eyes and they see Him for who He is.
How come He disappears?
How come Jesus doesn’t stay once they see Him?
The clue I think is in how they begin to move.
The story commences with the two of them walking the wrong way. Once they see Him, even though it is the middle of the night, a dangerous time to be travelling, even though they are far from Jerusalem. They set out and they head back in the right direction.
Once they saw Jesus, despite the late hour, despite the darkness, despite their fears, they go back to Jerusalem, they go back to the Eleven, they go back to the Church.
Jesus appears to us so as to empower us for mission.
He went to the Holy City and there He suffered the Cross.
Now those of us who see Him, who understand Him.
We must get up, even in dangerous times and we move now in the right direction back to Jerusalem having seen, now we walk.
Notice that the two disciples are not at all upset at the loss (again) of their leader.
In fact they are anxious to tell the apostles of their discovery
(source: http://www.scborromeo.org/biblestudies.htm)
So prospective evangelists, do what Jesus did. Walk with sinners, open the Book, break the Bread.
Source: Fr Robert Barron
Word on Fire
Compiled by the transcriptions of various mp3 sermons on this topic and an article on the same topic all found on his website.
http://wordonfire.org
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Luke 2:4-5 Parallels in Our Life
Luke 2:4-5
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
Comment
In this culture of privilege, wealth and prestige which means everything and where people aren’t having children because they want more things and children are too much time and too much expense and they just want to focus on themselves. In a culture where that happens, our Father in heaven shows us that in the simple lives of a housewife and a carpenter raising the Son of God has an intimate connection with the human family and that is why spouses must work together to develop this spirituality in their marriage that attests to the truth that God is love.
It is not easy and it takes work but what we have to remember in those difficult times is that God did not even spare “His own family”.
What kind of parallels can we see in our family life today?
For example, look at the Annunciation in Luke 1:26.
Mary is betrothed to Joseph she gets pregnant and Joseph discovers he is not the father of the child. Gee, that doesn’t happen today does it?
Look at the ordeal of Joseph who has to make a decision– do I leave her or do I stay. So many young men today get their girlfriends or fiancées pregnant and do what the culture say - take the easy option. When you separate love from life you create a culture of death. So they say to the girl ‘you need to go and take care of it, that’s your problem’ Joseph here stood up and could have had her stoned to death but that is not what he did. He was a man of honour and a man of character and the angel came to him and said this is God working here.
Then they have to leave and go to Bethlehem to do the census.
He can’t even find a place for his pregnant wife who is about to give birth so now they become a homeless family. We don’t have those today do we?
Then there was the flight into Egypt. He had to leave his homeland, his way of life, his means to support the family and go into Egypt. We have families today who have to leave their homeland because of war, because of famine, because of strife and move to a foreign country to begin their life again.
Then they actually lose Jesus. They are coming back from the Passover Feast travelling in caravans back in those days and they assume Jesus is with them in this caravan convoy. Mary asks Joseph ‘have you see Jesus around’? ‘No I thought He was with you.’
I can tell you from working with my time in law enforcement, I have been in situations where parents have lost their children and are not sure where they are and to see the terror on the faces of these parents is just heart wrenching so I can imagine what Joseph and Mary would have gone through. Then we read they found Jesus in the temple.
At some stage Mary becomes a single mother when Joseph dies.
How do we know? Because on the Cross, Jesus gives care of Mary to Jesus’ disciple and friend John.
He would not have done that had Joseph been alive.
So at some point Mary becomes a single mother. Gee, we don’t have those today do we?
Then we see Mary at the foot of the Cross. She has to endure something that no mother, no parent ever wants to endure. To see their children die before them.
Even though Jesus came to live in a human family did not mean that their life was perfect.
There was hardship, there was pain, there was suffering and they are the same things we see in families today. We need to draw strength from this in our struggles.
Source: ca060906b -The Eucharist- Heart of the Family -Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers.mp3
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
Comment
In this culture of privilege, wealth and prestige which means everything and where people aren’t having children because they want more things and children are too much time and too much expense and they just want to focus on themselves. In a culture where that happens, our Father in heaven shows us that in the simple lives of a housewife and a carpenter raising the Son of God has an intimate connection with the human family and that is why spouses must work together to develop this spirituality in their marriage that attests to the truth that God is love.
It is not easy and it takes work but what we have to remember in those difficult times is that God did not even spare “His own family”.
What kind of parallels can we see in our family life today?
For example, look at the Annunciation in Luke 1:26.
Mary is betrothed to Joseph she gets pregnant and Joseph discovers he is not the father of the child. Gee, that doesn’t happen today does it?
Look at the ordeal of Joseph who has to make a decision– do I leave her or do I stay. So many young men today get their girlfriends or fiancées pregnant and do what the culture say - take the easy option. When you separate love from life you create a culture of death. So they say to the girl ‘you need to go and take care of it, that’s your problem’ Joseph here stood up and could have had her stoned to death but that is not what he did. He was a man of honour and a man of character and the angel came to him and said this is God working here.
Then they have to leave and go to Bethlehem to do the census.
He can’t even find a place for his pregnant wife who is about to give birth so now they become a homeless family. We don’t have those today do we?
Then there was the flight into Egypt. He had to leave his homeland, his way of life, his means to support the family and go into Egypt. We have families today who have to leave their homeland because of war, because of famine, because of strife and move to a foreign country to begin their life again.
Then they actually lose Jesus. They are coming back from the Passover Feast travelling in caravans back in those days and they assume Jesus is with them in this caravan convoy. Mary asks Joseph ‘have you see Jesus around’? ‘No I thought He was with you.’
I can tell you from working with my time in law enforcement, I have been in situations where parents have lost their children and are not sure where they are and to see the terror on the faces of these parents is just heart wrenching so I can imagine what Joseph and Mary would have gone through. Then we read they found Jesus in the temple.
At some stage Mary becomes a single mother when Joseph dies.
How do we know? Because on the Cross, Jesus gives care of Mary to Jesus’ disciple and friend John.
He would not have done that had Joseph been alive.
So at some point Mary becomes a single mother. Gee, we don’t have those today do we?
Then we see Mary at the foot of the Cross. She has to endure something that no mother, no parent ever wants to endure. To see their children die before them.
Even though Jesus came to live in a human family did not mean that their life was perfect.
There was hardship, there was pain, there was suffering and they are the same things we see in families today. We need to draw strength from this in our struggles.
Source: ca060906b -The Eucharist- Heart of the Family -Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers.mp3
Proverbs 30:8-9 What We Really Want
Proverbs 30:8-9
Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.
Luke 9:2-3
and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.
Comment - What We Really Want
I'm glad we're walking the middle line,'' my husband recently told me. ''We have enough to provide for our needs, but little enough to keep us humble.''
I think he well understood the sentiments of today's proverb: ''Give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need.''
That's not to say we don't have times of want.
The temptation to want more is the plague of our society. Advertisements lure us to fancier phones, classier clothes, sportier cars.
We respond to this because in each of us, there is a longing for something more.
Something better.
That's because ''more'' and ''better'' are indeed our destiny.
But not on earth.
If we stop trying to capture them here, we can spend our time preparing to receive them in heaven.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be content with whatever You choose to give me.
Source: My Daily Visitor Meditation www.osv.com
Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.
Luke 9:2-3
and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.
Comment - What We Really Want
I'm glad we're walking the middle line,'' my husband recently told me. ''We have enough to provide for our needs, but little enough to keep us humble.''
I think he well understood the sentiments of today's proverb: ''Give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need.''
That's not to say we don't have times of want.
The temptation to want more is the plague of our society. Advertisements lure us to fancier phones, classier clothes, sportier cars.
We respond to this because in each of us, there is a longing for something more.
Something better.
That's because ''more'' and ''better'' are indeed our destiny.
But not on earth.
If we stop trying to capture them here, we can spend our time preparing to receive them in heaven.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be content with whatever You choose to give me.
Source: My Daily Visitor Meditation www.osv.com
Thursday, November 26, 2009
2 Samuel 6:12-14 and Luke 1:39-43, 56 – Ark of the Lord
2 Samuel 6:12-14 and Luke 1:39-43, 56 – Ark of the Lord
[9] And David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?"
[10] So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David; but David took it aside to the house of O'bed-e'dom the Gittite.
[11] And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of O'bed-e'dom the Gittite three months; and the LORD blessed O'bed-e'dom and all his household.
[12] And it was told King David, "The LORD has blessed the household of O'bed-e'dom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of O'bed-e'dom to the city of David with rejoicing;
[13] and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
[14] And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
Luke 1:39-43, 56
[39] In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
[40] and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth.
[41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
[42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
[43] And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
[44] For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.
[56] And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
Comment
Soon it will be the season of Advent where many will focus on the scripture leading up to and including the Birth of Jesus, our Saviour.
Some of this weeks scripture touches on Advent but also follows the theme that Ben introduced two weeks ago on the ‘Ark of the Covenant’
I hope to present some verses from the New Testament which relate to the Ark of the Covenant but in a ‘new’ way.
There are an incredible number of similarities found in the Old and New Testaments – the Ark of the Covenant is but one topic of many.
Christians for the last 2000 years have seen these similarities and probably the best quote to reflect this understanding is from Saint Augustine (354-430AD):
The Old Testament is revealed in the New and the New is concealed in the Old.
Some parallels seen in the above two passages - taken from Steve Ray’s article about the Ark of the Covenant.
• Mary arose and went to the hill country of Judea. Ein Kerem where Elizabeth lived and O'bed-e'dom from which the Ark was carried are a stone’s throw away from each other. Mary and the Ark were both on a journey to the same hill country of Judea.
• When David saw the Ark he rejoiced and said, “Who am I that the Ark of the Lord should come to me?” and what does Elizabeth say? She shouts out almost the same words, “Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?”
• When David approached the Ark he shouted out and danced and leapt in front of the Ark. He even wore an ephod which was the clothing of a priest. When Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant approaches Elizabeth John the Baptist leapt in his mothers womb – and John was from the priestly line of Aaron. Both leapt and danced in the presence of the Ark. David was filled with the Spirit to dance and rejoice; Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
• The Ark of the Old Covenant remained in the house of Obed-edom for three months and we are told that Mary remained in the house of Elizabeth for three months
[9] And David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?"
[10] So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David; but David took it aside to the house of O'bed-e'dom the Gittite.
[11] And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of O'bed-e'dom the Gittite three months; and the LORD blessed O'bed-e'dom and all his household.
[12] And it was told King David, "The LORD has blessed the household of O'bed-e'dom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of O'bed-e'dom to the city of David with rejoicing;
[13] and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
[14] And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
Luke 1:39-43, 56
[39] In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
[40] and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth.
[41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
[42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
[43] And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
[44] For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.
[56] And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
Comment
Soon it will be the season of Advent where many will focus on the scripture leading up to and including the Birth of Jesus, our Saviour.
Some of this weeks scripture touches on Advent but also follows the theme that Ben introduced two weeks ago on the ‘Ark of the Covenant’
I hope to present some verses from the New Testament which relate to the Ark of the Covenant but in a ‘new’ way.
There are an incredible number of similarities found in the Old and New Testaments – the Ark of the Covenant is but one topic of many.
Christians for the last 2000 years have seen these similarities and probably the best quote to reflect this understanding is from Saint Augustine (354-430AD):
The Old Testament is revealed in the New and the New is concealed in the Old.
Some parallels seen in the above two passages - taken from Steve Ray’s article about the Ark of the Covenant.
• Mary arose and went to the hill country of Judea. Ein Kerem where Elizabeth lived and O'bed-e'dom from which the Ark was carried are a stone’s throw away from each other. Mary and the Ark were both on a journey to the same hill country of Judea.
• When David saw the Ark he rejoiced and said, “Who am I that the Ark of the Lord should come to me?” and what does Elizabeth say? She shouts out almost the same words, “Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?”
• When David approached the Ark he shouted out and danced and leapt in front of the Ark. He even wore an ephod which was the clothing of a priest. When Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant approaches Elizabeth John the Baptist leapt in his mothers womb – and John was from the priestly line of Aaron. Both leapt and danced in the presence of the Ark. David was filled with the Spirit to dance and rejoice; Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
• The Ark of the Old Covenant remained in the house of Obed-edom for three months and we are told that Mary remained in the house of Elizabeth for three months
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
I have come to bring fire to the earth
SCRIPTURE Luke 12:49
I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled.
COMMENT
Fire gives forth not only light but also heat.
After being empowered to “make disciples of all nations”, by being baptised “with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16), Spirit filled persons should be supernaturally enlightened so as to enlighten others, but also fired with zeal for their own spiritual growth, striving to “excel in the spiritual gifts [charisms] that build up the Church (1 Cor 14:12).
So important is this charismatic imperative that Paul adds a caveat: “Do not extinguish the Spirits fire” (1 Thess 5:19).
Being blessed with the infilling of the Spirit should make us a blessing to others.
As fire tends to spread, so also does the Spirit’s love-inflaming presence in “those who are his very own” (Titus 2:14)
The Spirit-fire is sanctifying for those who received it, but for it to spread it must also be refuelled or kindled.
Source: Keep The Faith But Not To Yourself
Rev John Hampsch
I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled.
COMMENT
Fire gives forth not only light but also heat.
After being empowered to “make disciples of all nations”, by being baptised “with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16), Spirit filled persons should be supernaturally enlightened so as to enlighten others, but also fired with zeal for their own spiritual growth, striving to “excel in the spiritual gifts [charisms] that build up the Church (1 Cor 14:12).
So important is this charismatic imperative that Paul adds a caveat: “Do not extinguish the Spirits fire” (1 Thess 5:19).
Being blessed with the infilling of the Spirit should make us a blessing to others.
As fire tends to spread, so also does the Spirit’s love-inflaming presence in “those who are his very own” (Titus 2:14)
The Spirit-fire is sanctifying for those who received it, but for it to spread it must also be refuelled or kindled.
Source: Keep The Faith But Not To Yourself
Rev John Hampsch
Thursday, July 23, 2009
How could the crowd have preferred Barabbas over Jesus?
Luke 23:13-25
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him; neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him;
I will therefore chastise him and release him." But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barab'bas" -- a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus; but they shouted out, "Crucify, crucify him!"
A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise him and release him." But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
Comment
How could the Jews? How could the crowd have preferred Barabbas over Jesus?
To begin, let’s consider who was Barabbas?
We know that he was a murderer and they chose him over the author of life. We are told he was a rebel and they chose him over one who was obedient, obedient even unto death – death on the cross. He was a thief, one who came to steal and they chose him over one who came only to give – giving his life on the cross so that you might have life in its fullness.
So Barabbas was a rebel. That should remind us of who was the first rebel and what was the first rebellion. Barabbas was guilty of insurrection. What was the first insurrection? It was of course the insurrection of Lucifer over God. Lucifer was the first rebel when he said I will not serve. Barabbas was a murderer. Who was the first murderer? In John 8:44, Jesus said it was the devil himself. Barabbas was a thief. Jesus speaks of the thief in John 10:10. So we can see Barabbas is a picture of the devil himself.
What about the name of Barabbas? The Aramaic name of Barabbas is made up of two parts – bar (Son) and abbas (Father) – or son of the father.
We know Jesus is the true Son of the Father. Jesus came in the name of the Son of the Father given to Him by God the Father Himself. Barabbas came in the name son of the father given to him by himself. What does this remind us of? John 5:43 says I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.
If Barabbas serves as a picture of the devil, who do the Jews serve as a picture of in this passage? The bad news is they are in fact a picture of us. For it is easy for us to look at this scene of Jesus in His agony and say ‘How could they? How could the crowd choose Barabbas over Him?’ But isn’t that exactly what we do whenever we choose to sin?
Like the Jews we are choosing the devil over Jesus! Barabbas over Jesus
The murderer over the author of life.
The liar over the Way, the Truth and the Life.
The one who has only come to steal over the one who has come to give us life in its fullness.
When we look at the torture exhausted bloody swollen face of Jesus under the crown of thorns with the gaze still loving and patient and see with indignation fury and horror of the Jews choosing Barabbas over Him, we should see ourselves each time we choose to sin. And every time we are faced with the temptation of occasion to sin we should call to mind the same picture and ask ourselves how can we do what the Jews did? How can we reject Jesus and choose Barabbas?
In fact, the Jews have in many ways much more of an excuse than we do because although they knew how terrible how Barabbas was they did not really know how good Jesus was. They did not know that He was our Creator, our God, Him to whom we owe absolutely everything. Yet we do know all of this and we still choose Barabbas over Him every time we choose to sin. Like the Jews, each time we sin –to Pilates “What shall I do with Jesus?” we shout back ‘Crucify Him!’ And this is quite literally true because it is our sin that lies behind the pain and crucifixion of Jesus. It is our sin that made it necessary and each time we sin we add to the pain that Jesus suffered.
The Good Friday Reproaches
I led you out of Egypt from slavery to freedom but you led your Saviour to the cross.
For forty years I led you safely through the desert, I fed you with manna from heaven and brought you to a land of plenty, but you led your Saviour to the cross.
What more could I have done for you. I planted you as my fairest vine but you yielded only bitterness.
When I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink and you pierced your Saviour with a lance.
For your sake, I scourged your captors and their first born but you brought your scourges down on me.
I led you from slavery to freedom and drowned your captors in the sea, but you handed me over to your high priest.
I opened the sea before you, but you opened my side with a spear.
I led you on your way on a pillar of cloud but you led me to Pilates court.
I gave you a royal sceptre but you gave me a crown of thorns.
I raised you to the height of majesty but you have raised me high on a cross.
My people what have I done to you, how have I offended you, answer me.
Source: www.SalvationIsFromTheJews.com by Roy Schoeman – a Jew who experienced an unexpected and instantaneous conversion to Christianity.
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him; neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him;
I will therefore chastise him and release him." But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barab'bas" -- a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus; but they shouted out, "Crucify, crucify him!"
A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise him and release him." But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
Comment
How could the Jews? How could the crowd have preferred Barabbas over Jesus?
To begin, let’s consider who was Barabbas?
We know that he was a murderer and they chose him over the author of life. We are told he was a rebel and they chose him over one who was obedient, obedient even unto death – death on the cross. He was a thief, one who came to steal and they chose him over one who came only to give – giving his life on the cross so that you might have life in its fullness.
So Barabbas was a rebel. That should remind us of who was the first rebel and what was the first rebellion. Barabbas was guilty of insurrection. What was the first insurrection? It was of course the insurrection of Lucifer over God. Lucifer was the first rebel when he said I will not serve. Barabbas was a murderer. Who was the first murderer? In John 8:44, Jesus said it was the devil himself. Barabbas was a thief. Jesus speaks of the thief in John 10:10. So we can see Barabbas is a picture of the devil himself.
What about the name of Barabbas? The Aramaic name of Barabbas is made up of two parts – bar (Son) and abbas (Father) – or son of the father.
We know Jesus is the true Son of the Father. Jesus came in the name of the Son of the Father given to Him by God the Father Himself. Barabbas came in the name son of the father given to him by himself. What does this remind us of? John 5:43 says I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.
If Barabbas serves as a picture of the devil, who do the Jews serve as a picture of in this passage? The bad news is they are in fact a picture of us. For it is easy for us to look at this scene of Jesus in His agony and say ‘How could they? How could the crowd choose Barabbas over Him?’ But isn’t that exactly what we do whenever we choose to sin?
Like the Jews we are choosing the devil over Jesus! Barabbas over Jesus
The murderer over the author of life.
The liar over the Way, the Truth and the Life.
The one who has only come to steal over the one who has come to give us life in its fullness.
When we look at the torture exhausted bloody swollen face of Jesus under the crown of thorns with the gaze still loving and patient and see with indignation fury and horror of the Jews choosing Barabbas over Him, we should see ourselves each time we choose to sin. And every time we are faced with the temptation of occasion to sin we should call to mind the same picture and ask ourselves how can we do what the Jews did? How can we reject Jesus and choose Barabbas?
In fact, the Jews have in many ways much more of an excuse than we do because although they knew how terrible how Barabbas was they did not really know how good Jesus was. They did not know that He was our Creator, our God, Him to whom we owe absolutely everything. Yet we do know all of this and we still choose Barabbas over Him every time we choose to sin. Like the Jews, each time we sin –to Pilates “What shall I do with Jesus?” we shout back ‘Crucify Him!’ And this is quite literally true because it is our sin that lies behind the pain and crucifixion of Jesus. It is our sin that made it necessary and each time we sin we add to the pain that Jesus suffered.
The Good Friday Reproaches
I led you out of Egypt from slavery to freedom but you led your Saviour to the cross.
For forty years I led you safely through the desert, I fed you with manna from heaven and brought you to a land of plenty, but you led your Saviour to the cross.
What more could I have done for you. I planted you as my fairest vine but you yielded only bitterness.
When I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink and you pierced your Saviour with a lance.
For your sake, I scourged your captors and their first born but you brought your scourges down on me.
I led you from slavery to freedom and drowned your captors in the sea, but you handed me over to your high priest.
I opened the sea before you, but you opened my side with a spear.
I led you on your way on a pillar of cloud but you led me to Pilates court.
I gave you a royal sceptre but you gave me a crown of thorns.
I raised you to the height of majesty but you have raised me high on a cross.
My people what have I done to you, how have I offended you, answer me.
Source: www.SalvationIsFromTheJews.com by Roy Schoeman – a Jew who experienced an unexpected and instantaneous conversion to Christianity.
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