Not This Man! – John 18
“Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.” — John 18:40
In John 18, hatred and spiritual blindness have taken over the hearts and minds of the Jewish leaders and people. Nothing but the death of Jesus will be satisfactory to them.
When given a choice between a robber or a healer, they choose the thief. For some insane reason, they preferred a criminal over a Christ. How unjust! How shocking!
Yet, that is the heart condition of all men before they repent and believe on Jesus. Before I came to faith in Christ, I preferred sinners because I was a sinner. I could identify with rebels because I had a rebellious heart. Jesus, the light of the world, only shined His light uncomfortably on my sin.
Getting past that uncomfortable feeling of guilt and humility is essential to having sin forgiven. We must come openly and honestly to the Lord. When we do, He forgives us rather than condemns us.
Who are you choosing? Do you follow fallen men or the spotless lamb of God who died to take away your sin?