Jn18

Do you know these relatively unknown biblical names, with two fantastic stories!?  Malchus & Barabbas.  Malchus was the slave of the high priest who had his ear cut off by Peter and replaced by Jesus in the midst of Jesus' betrayal.  Barabbas was a criminal condemned to die that was released instead of Jesus the morning before Jesus was crucified.  What were they thinking?

We don't have much biblical writings on these two men, but I can't help but think they were two of the final stories Jesus wanted to write before He was crucified.  Imagine the pain of a severed ear only to have it totally replaced and healed in a moment by Jesus.  What would that have been like?  In a moment you barely escape death and lose an ear.  In the next moment you are touched by the King of the universe!  Did he believe?

And what about Barabbas?  He was a violent criminal condemned to die by crucifixion.  Instead of dying, he was set free because of Jesus.  One moment he was on death row, and the next he was totally free.  All because of Jesus.  What was he thinking?  Did he believe?

And what about us?  In a sense aren't we just like these men?  Haven't we been touched and set free by Jesus?  I think we have.  We should celebrate this reality today.