Jesus Barabbas

Many of you know the story of Jesus and Barabbas, but today I am going to share something with you that you probably didn’t know. When presented with the option of releasing a prisoner by Pontius Pilot during the Passover feast, the crowd chose Jesus Barabbas over Jesus of Nazareth.

WOW. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t learn of their common first name until I became an adult. It makes me wonder though, why did the crowd choose Jesus Barabbas over Jesus of Nazerth?

Jesus Barabbas was a violent rebel who led an attack on a Roman installation. He was popular among the Jews because they hated the Roman occupation. Jesus Barabbas acted like what the Jews thought their savior would look like. He said the things they wanted to hear, and he did the things they wanted to do; he was the the personification of the savior they had been waiting on.

I just can’t help but wonder, how many times have I followed Jesus Barabbas? How many times have I told God how to save, redeem, heal, or restore me?

Friend, the enemy works by taking the truth and twisting it in such a subtle way. Without examination you wouldn’t notice the difference between Jesus (B.) & Jesus (the King). There may be some lies you are believing about yourself or about God that need to be brought into the light today. There may be some lies you are believing about yourself that you will only be healed from through thorough self-examination.

It’s time to bring your pain into the light.

I am going to cut this article short and leave you with the prayer below that the Lord has used to help me heal.

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(FYI, I am not the author of this prayer. This is from a healing prayer ministry.)

Dear Heavenly Father,
It is my choice today to forgive (write in name)…

…for the offense which he/she brought against me (describe offense briefly).

I forgive him/her unconditionally for the things done which brought hurt in my life.

I drop every charge which I have brought against him/her and give up the right to ever charge him/her again for this offense.

I cancel every judgment I have made against him/her.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I release him/her from all responsibility for the hurt which he/she caused me regardless of how badly I was hurt.

Heavenly Father, I forgive you for permitting this to happen to me and please forgive me for any way that I have blamed you in this offense.

Heavenly Father, as I have forgiven (write in name)…

…for the hurt I have experienced, please forgive me of my hurt, bitterness, anger and unforgiveness.

Holy Spirit, please come and heal my thoughts, my emotions and my memories from all the damage and defilement caused by my offense.

Thank you, Father, for my healing.
(It may be necessary to pray more than once regarding a particular issue. Continue until you have peace.)
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I have already received a ton of questions related to saying “Heavenly Father, I forgive you for permitting this to happen to me“. In short,you should know that when you forgive someone you are releasing yourself, NOT them. I will discuss this further in my next article titled Forgiveness.