He died in my place

 Peter J. Asirvatham

 

I awoke with a start that momentous morning. I thought I heard someone call my name. As I lay on the cold hard floor of the prison my senses became alert.

    "Barabbas" I heard my name called out, voices in unison. I jumped up. Why was my name being called out so early in the morning? Were my ears playing a trick on me? No. There it was again "Barabbas". It sounded like it was coming from the Praetorium - the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate's office. "Barabbas, Barabbas, Barabbas, Barabbas." Louder and louder as more and more voices joined in. 

    My heart sank! Has my execution day arrived? "Crucify him!" rang out a shrill lone voice. As if on cue the crowd picked up and, the chorus began, "Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!" I had been incarcerated for insurrection against Rome, and death by crucifixion was a foregone verdict. "Barabbas, Barabbas, Barabbas Barabbas." The baying for blood reached fever pitch. Suddenly the chorus stopped. 

    A sliver of uncanny silence pierced my pounding heart. I had known the verdict for my crimes - crucifixion, and knew that the day would come but was it really so soon? Not during Passover. Surely God, not now! 

    And then I heard with rising dread the stomp of soldiers' feet hastening down the prison corridor. Strong arms threw cold shackles on my hands and feet, dragged me up the cold steps and pushed me out into the glaring light.

    Squinting in the bright sunlight, I saw a large crowd gathered outside the Praetorium, standing in the front was Caiaphas - the high priest, with the chief priests and members of the Sanhedrin - the religious ruling council of Israel. The governor was seated in the judgement seat. "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" demanded the governor. The crowd responded "Barabbas, Barabbas." Pilate continued, "Again I ask you. What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" "Crucify him!" They shouted. "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted, "Crucify him!" Their demand prevailed.

    It was then that I noticed the man standing before Pilate, the one who had been called "Christ" Jesus. Realisation dawned on me - the crowd had been demanding my release all along and, the crucifixion of this man.

    Jesus Christ turned to look at me. A strange feeling swept over me as I gazed into his eyes. Overcome with guilt I tried to look away and yet in just a moment I yearned and turned to look into his eyes. A rush of warmth engulfed my heart, momentarily. Suddenly, two soldiers dragged Jesus away for flogging, while another unshackled me. I was set free without trial.

    One of the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on Jesus' head. Another put a staff in his right hand and they knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. The crowd that had demanded my release was oblivious of my freedom. As they led Jesus away to crucify I followed him to Golgotha (The place of The Skull).

    Crucifixion - a painful and humiliating execution meted out to criminals by Rome is inhuman and yet soon after Jesus was hoisted on his cross, he cried out, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." The excruciating pain and shock – to mind, body and soul can change the kindest soul - Jesus forgave his tormentors and all those who were responsible for his condition, from the cross! 

    Two criminals were crucified alongside Jesus. As the chief priests, elders, and even passersby mocked Jesus, the two criminals who were enduring a similar fate as Jesus joined in the mocking too. All of a sudden, however,  it dawned on one of them who Jesus is. He cried out to him, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." When Jesus saw the man's faith he answered, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." His words pierced my heart. Why, oh why was I not up there on the cross? Why was I set free into darkness?

    As the darkness engulfed my soul, an extraordinary darkness came over all the land at noon. About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." As he said this, he breathed his last. At that very moment the earth shook under our feet. The earthquake was so powerful that some of the rocks around us shattered and the sun re-appeared! The light was so blinding, everyone around were so terrified. Even the Roman Centurion in charge became white-faced and exclaimed, "Surely he is the Son of God."

    I went home a free man, yet, blissful sleep escaped my fatigued body and troubled mind that night. At day break yesterday, I returned to Golgotha. The first rays of sun from behind the Mount of Olives silhouetted the empty cross of Jesus. Dew drops on the rugged cross made the blood of Jesus Christ glisten in the morning light. The blood on the cross reminded me of the blood of the Pascal lamb on the doorframes in the first Passover in Egypt - a story I've heard from my father, repeated at every Passover. Now, the blood of Jesus Christ and Passover had an all new meaning. I heard a still voice say, "He is the Passover Lamb, whose blood takes away the sins of the world." I turned to see who it was, but there was no one around!

     How Caiaphas and his coterie had played out a drama! Demanding my release was a ploy to force Pilate into a quick end to the trial and get Jesus Christ crucified. As an insurrectionist, I had sought to overthrow the Romans by means of violence - often murdering Romans in cold blood. Jesus Christ, on the other hand had been preaching love. He spoke of the Kingdom of God where love reigned. For all the crimes I have committed, I deserved to be crucified! And in my place Jesus died! Why was I alive? Why was he taken - an innocent person who practiced the love of God? Guilt and shame torturing my inner self, my head bowed down with the weight of all the sins, I fell on my knees in prayer at the foot of the cross and asked Jesus Christ the Son of God, to forgive - me a sinner. My prayer set me free in the truest sense of the word - freedom from sin and guilt.

 

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    Jerusalem and Zion has been abuzz since morning with the most glorious news - the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Early this morning a few women followers of Jesus from Galilee, had gone to his tomb with spices to anoint the body. They found that the stone that had been used to seal the entrance rolled away and the tomb empty.  Jesus' body was not where it had been laid to rest. A young man in a white robe had appeared to the women and said that Jesus Christ who was crucified and died was not there for he had risen. Jesus' followers had been echoing the same, "He is not here. For he has risen." What joy that news filled my heart!

    Many Jews and Gentiles have been visiting the Tomb of Jesus Christ since hearing the news of his resurrection. I visited it too, with my family. As I stepped inside the empty tomb a thought crossed my mind - "Death has been swallowed up in victory!" Kneeling down I invited my risen Saviour to come into my life. I left the tomb happy that one day I would see his radiant face again and look into those loving eyes.

    I must return to my prison, to meet my former captors and inmates, and all those in whom darkness resides and share the Gospel - the good news of Jesus Christ in whose name there is Salvation.

 

(The Garden Tomb of Jesus Christ - Jerusalem)