28. Love's Exchange

Wednesday 20th March

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(for more details see here)

Pause:

"Give me a sight, O Savior,
Of Thy wondrous love to me,
Of the love that brought Thee down to earth,
To die on Calvary.

Oh, make me understand it,
Help me to take it in,
What it meant to Thee, the Holy One,
To bear away my sin."

Katherine Kelly

Today's reading: John 18. 37-40

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It seems clear to me that Pilate doesn't want to send Jesus to His death.
The "uncentered soul" tries every which way to find another way to avoid the cross.

But as much as he doesn't want it - the last thing he wants is a riot.
Jerusalem will be hard enough to manage with the influx of Passover pilgrims as it is.
He must end this scene, and he must end it fast.

His racing thoughts find a safe haven in an old custom of releasing a prisoner back to the people at the time of the Passover.

Buried deep in the cells far beneath his palace is a terrorist called Barabbas. Surely nothing will appease the people than offering to release an actual insurrectionist back out among the masses.

What more damage can a man like Barabbas do? We can't imagine the future death and destruction releasing this man will unleash. But Pilate is a pragmatist. He figures most of the Jewish population aren't behind the use violence and force. He doesn't bet on people hating Jesus enough to ask for a terrorist in his stead. He is willing to wager a future nightmare for a present one, and can't see it going against him.

But it is a gamble that doesn't pay off.
He loses.
Badly.

And somehow, Jesus exchanges places with a known killer.
The innocent for the guilty.
The beautiful for the ugly.
The peaceful for the angry.
The loving for the hated-filled.

Barabbas' chains are loosed, and he dances away free. But Jesus is led away in chains and walks the way of the cross.

Yet You left the gaze of angels,
Came to seek and save the lost,
And exchanged the joy of heaven
For the anguish of a cross.

Stuart Townend & Keith Getty

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Fanny Crosby

Reflection: Love's Exchange

William Barclay reflects on this passage in this way:

What happened to Barabbas no man knows; but John Oxenham in one of his books has an imaginary picture of him. At first Barabbas could think of nothing but his freedom; then he began to look at the man who had died that he might live. Something about Jesus fascinated him and he followed Him out to see the end. As he saw Jesus bearing his Cross, one thought burned into his mind: "I should have been carrying that Cross, not He. He saved me!" And as he saw Jesus hanging on Calvary, the only thing of which he could think was: "I should have been hanging there, not He. He saved me!" It may be so, or it may not be so; but certainly Barabbas was one of the sinners Jesus died to save.

William Barclay

I should have been carrying that Cross, not He.
I should have been hanging there, not He.
He
saved
me!

Love's Exchange.

Questions for today:

How I using the freedom I find in Jesus?

Prayer:

My heart is captivated, Lord, by You alone,
Captured by the awesomeness of You alone.
Melted by the grace and mercy You have shown,
I stand in wonder.

I live to worship You,
I breathe to worship You,
All of my days Your face I will seek.
For as I worship You,
You lead me to that place,
To that place of divine exchange.

I prayed this.

My prayer for today: (if you would like to, please feel free to add your own prayer here):

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Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

Where and When

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We aim to finish at about 11.45 to Midday when we serve free tea, coffee and cold drinks. This is a great opportunity to get to meet people.

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