The Passion Week has begun. Yesterday we recognized the glorious entry into the city by the ultimate of Passover Lambs. Quickly the attitude of the week shifts as we fast approach the gruesome, yet necessary, Friday evening. It’s unavoidable. Victory must come through the pain and sorrow of Friday’s misery.
The sacrifice was no less than ultimate. It is unfathomable to think about the experience that He went through, but there was no other way. It could not have been any less painful, any less horrific.
Over the weekend, I was captivated by the thought of what it was like for those that lived and walked with him prior to that week. They welcomed Him in on Palm Sunday like a newly arriving King, but called for His death just 4 days later. Where was the shift in attitude?
It is commonly held that the Jewish people believed that their “Messiah” would come as a glorious King leading them out of the oppression of the Roman rule. Jesus came under a bit of a different cloak. Yes, He was all King, but He was also all man. He came to establish His Kingdom here and now. The Jewish people were hoping for someone to come and overthrow the current dictatorship that was daily brining suffering to their people. They failed to see the picture and plan that was God’s – which is why they called for the release of Barabbas over Jesus on that fateful day.
Quite simply, the devil will always have a counterfeit plan ready in the wings and he will always try to sell it off as legitimate. Little is known outside the Gospels about Barabbas. What we do know is that although labeled a “murderer” it was not as simple as some might think. It is likely that he was a “freedom fighter” – some scholars believe he was from the Zealots fighting for the freedom of the Jewish people against Roman Rule. It was during some type of insurrection event that he committed murder and was jailed. I am not by any means suggesting he was a “good” guy – today he would likely be a Terrorist, but to someone, he was their fighter of freedom.
It even goes further. The name Barabbas literally means “Son of Abba” and some early manuscripts of Matthew refer to him as “Jesus Barabbas”. During that fateful trial of Jesus Christ the people had a decision to make. Claim Jesus as their King or chose the alternate path and release the counterfeit fighter of freedom – Barabbas. Their minds, much like ours, simply could not comprehend that ultimate plan of Jesus Christ, so they chose to release the counterfeit.
To me it comes to this simple statement: God’s plan is always better than ours.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8 NKJV)
In life we will always be faced with choices and decisions. There will be times that we will be faced with two paths and one might appear to bring the faster result – but I caution you, don’t always trust what you see. There will always be a counterfeit plan waiting in the wings. God’s plan might not make sense, but His peace will make it clear. Take a pause. Submit to Him and follow it out. He knows. He always has and always will.
This coming Resurrection Sunday, my prayer for each and everyone of you is that the God of ALL things, will unveil Himself in a new way to you and that He will guide you to your ultimate destiny.
Question: What do you do to ensure you are choosing God’s plan over the counterfeit?
