February 2017 Communion Meditation
John 18:40 – “So they cried out again, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas.’”
Barabbas’ name is interesting and, I think, telling to say the least. Bar means "son of" and abbas comes from the word for father. Barabbas, then, means "son of his father." Such a name is fitting for the universality of the role which Barabbas seems to fill. Picture the scene on the day in which Christ was crucified. On one side stands a murderer, thief, terrorist, notorious felon, a vile offender and son of his father, while adjacent stands the sinless Son of His Father and spotless paschal Lamb. And on this day, Barabbas, who according to the law was deserving of the punishment that Christ bore, received an unexpected and undeserved pardon. The guilty went free while the Innocent was slain. The sinner lived and the Savior died. One man’s debt was erased while One paid the price that He never owed.
A man went free the day Christ died. Now I’m not speaking of Barabbas but of all who would believe upon Christ and His substitutionary, atoning work upon the cross. “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isaiah 53:5-6). O wonderful exchange!
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“Glory be to Thee, O Lord, our God, that in our extreme need of a Redeemer, Thou hast made such gracious provision for our souls; that Thou hast sent Thy Son to die for our sins, and to save us, after we had destroyed ourselves. Blessed be Thy name, that He who offered Himself upon the cross for us, is pleased to offer Himself at His Table to us; there have I been tasting the fruits of His love, and receiving my share among the redeemed of the Lord. O blessed be God for so great a mercy!
I bless Thee, my God, for the mercies of a Saviour; without which all other mercies would be of no avail, would do me no good. I bless Thee, that Thou hast not withheld Thy Son, Thine only Son from us; but hast given Him to be the propitiation for our sins, and the life and food of our souls.
Return to thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee. Thy life is given thee at His hands, who forgiveth all thy sins, and healeth all thy diseases; and not only redeems thee from destruction, but crowns thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; and satisfied thy mouth with good things, even with pardon and peace, yea, with the riches of His grace, and the pledges of His glory.
Eternal thanks and praise be unto Thee, O blessed God, my Saviour, for all Thy glorious achievements, in laying the sure foundation for our hope, and everlasting consolation.” [prayer of thanksgiving extracted from Hugh Blair’s, A Companion to the Altar; Shewing the Nature and Necessity of Sacramental Preparation, In order to our worthy receiving the Holy Communion. (London: Weed and Rider, 1820), 116-117.]