While the title might seem a bit odd if you are a follower
of Jesus, the Only Son of the Father, I’m confident it asks a timely
question. I’ll get to the Biblical text
in a bit, but first I want to make this point:
Many people today are choosing to follow a Jesus that ISN’T
the Jesus found in the New Testament.
The Biblical Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Note that He said that He was the only way to
God. Not ONE way, or one of MANY ways,
but the ONLY way. Later in the same
chapter, Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commands.” (John 14:15) He didn’t say TRY to keep them. Or keep MOST of them. Or keep them if you AGREE with them!
Folks today seem to want to pick and choose which parts of
the Bible they believe, and in essence, which Jesus they want to follow. In fact, one denomination recently started a
campaign to reach disgruntled church-goers who have a problem with the rigidity
of the Bible when interpreted simply and literally. That church’s campaign states boldly: “The
Bible is like GPS: A brilliant guide; All-knowing; Occasionally wrong.” (Emphasis
mine) The point they hope to make is
that the issues we have to deal with today are too complex to trust an old book
for answers. They would advocate letting
God speak to you and whatever you think He says is right for you. In other words, you can have religion and God
on your terms, if only you attend the right church!
On the day Jesus, the Messiah, was crucified, the people of
Jerusalem had a choice. Pilate offered
to release one of two prisoners to the people:
So
when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to
release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?”…The chief
priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and
to execute Jesus. The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want
me to release for you?” “Barabbas!” they
answered. Pilate asked them, “What
should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?” They all answered, “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 27:17-22)
That fateful day, the crowd called for the death of Jesus,
the Messiah. We call Him Jesus, the Son
of God, or Jesus, the Christ, or even Jesus, the Son of the Father. What you may not know, is that the other
fellow, the revolutionary that wanted to overthrow Rome, was likely known to
all by his full name, Jesus Barabbas.
This full name is supported both by ancient Biblical texts and writings
of the early Church leaders. So isn’t it
odd that when Pilate made the request, some texts say he asked, “Do you want me
to release Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus the Messiah?”
Well that’s awfully complicated! But to make it more so, please realize that
the thief’s second name, Bar-Abbas, means “Son of the father”. So Pilate asked, “Do you want Jesus, son of
the father, or Jesus, Son of the Father!”
The crowd opted for the criminal and not the Christ. They picked the brigand over the
Begotten. They chose the Jesus who would
get them what they wanted, instead of the Jesus who could give them what they
needed.
You need to make a choice because we all do, one way or the other.
Which Jesus do you want? Please
choose wisely, my friend.
Jacob
I was unaware of this issue
ReplyDeleteThank you