Grace

Place yourself before Pilate, Barabus and Jesus. Who would you choose? To chose Jesus you would have to go against the opinions and actions of your religion, your King and the representative of Rome. To chose Jesus is to become a total outcast. This is a huge ask.

Then ask yourself, is Jesus association with prostitutes, publicans and sinners simply too much for you? Think of the Roman Centurion in Capernaum, the prostitute in Simon the Pharisees house, John the Baptist's doubt and you have enough doubt yourself to choose Barabus. I think all of us would have chosen Barabus because Jesus, at the time, was far too "un-Messiah like". We just couldn't be sure. This is what the human race has been forgiven of. We constantly chose Barabus, and Jesus constantly prays of us: "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing". Every breath humanity has breathed ever since is a gift of grace.

I have also come to realise that when I fail in any way the guilt and shame I feel is more a loss of self righteousness rather than a loss of any righteousness, after all, when are we ever 'more righteous'?

A simple meditation on these things leaves me in awe of Christ and in awe of grace.