A Perspective Shift

I was sitting there in my cell. It was dark, dank and stank. I could hear the mice scurry over the floor. I wasn't supposed to have been caught but I did the crime. I knew my time was short and I would die soon.

The sun was just starting to rise. It was one more day for me to sit within these four walls and wait for the calling of my name, my time to go, the final hoorah. There would be no one coming to my rescue. There would be no one mourning my death.

I was a murderer. I had willfully, intentionally incited an uprising. I was trouble. I deserved my fate. I'd resigned myself to it. Oh how I wish I could go back. I would've done things differently. If I could, I wouldn't do it again at all. This cell is cold. I miss my family. They've written me off. They don't come visit. They've given up on me. I'm a lost cause for them. They are damaged by reputation. 

Wait. What's this noise? What's going on outside? There must be something major happening. It sounds like a massive amount of people What's going on?! They're yelling something but I can't quite make it out. Was that my name?? What are they yelling about?? I really think they were talking about me!

I hear noises in the corridor. Soldiers! This is it. They were yelling about me. My time is up. I wonder how they will kill me. Will I get to see my family one last time? They're almost to my cell. I'm scared. 

They're so rough jerking me up. They're moving so quickly they're practically dragging me along. There's nothing gentle about their movements. I guess it won't matter soon. I'm going to die and being hurt now won't last long. I'm so scared I'm shaking.

I can see the end of the corridor. I can see the sunlight I haven't seen in so long. It's so bright!

There are so many people! It's so confusing. They can't be here for me. This doesn't make any sense. What's going on??

"Crucify him!"

So that's how I'm to die? Oh man, I had hoped for something faster. I had wanted something quick, something over and done. The sun is so bright now. I can't even see because I'm so used to the darkness of my cell.

They just shoved me to the ground! The soldiers just walked away! What is happening?? They let go and went back inside! There's a mob of people here that seem happy to see me but angry at the same time. 

They're taking someone else away. No one is even paying attention to me. Not even the soldiers. Who is this man? Am I free to go?? What's going on??

"Excuse me, who is that man?"

"That's Jesus, he claims to be Messiah, King of the Jews."

"Why are they taking him away?"

"They're going to crucify him. They released some guy named Barabbas and he took his place."

Full stop. I did hear my name. Who is this Jesus? What has he done that was so terrible they allowed him to take my place? How is he guilty? What is his story? Wait! I'm free?? I'll live?! I can go home?? But why?? What has happened here? Who is Jesus!?

I linger in the crowd. I should make a run for it so they can't change their mind and throw me back in that terrible cell. My curiosity wins though and I step closer to the action. Who is this Jesus? Why did he take my place?

I walk closer. I cringe as I hear the first sound of flesh being struck. I question those around me as to what this man is charged with and no one has an answer. I flinch with every strike against his body. What is happening here? Why is he being beaten? What has he done?

I watch them take large thorns and weave them into a circle. I stand in horror as they jam these thorns into this man's head. They've made him a crown! King of the Jews now wears a crown of thorns.

I still can't get a straight answer as to what he's done. None of this makes any sense. I know the Romans love to punish but it's typically for a reason. He's done nothing wrong. I'm told even Pilate "finds no basis for a charge against him."

Yet here they beat him severely. He's seemingly innocent, without blame. No one can tell me a single thing that he's done to deserve this. And here I am, a murderer, a guilty man that actually should be receiving this beating. 

His body is bloody. He's weak from the beatings. He can't see for the blood pouring from his head. And his crime? Being called the Messiah. He took my place. I was set free because of him. I was guilty and he is innocent. But I walk free and he pays my price. 

Pilate even came back to try and leave things at just a beating. He feels the man is innocent. 

"Crucify him! Crucify him!"

"As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."

This man was accused of blasphemy. You could tell Pilate was trying everything in his power to release him. The crowd was having none of that. 

"Crucify him!"

I'm shocked at his condition. I'm not sure how he's standing upright. I can't understand what horrors are happening in front of my very eyes. This man took my place. He's been horrendously beaten. Now they're forcing him to carry the cross beam of his own cross! That looks heavy for a healthy man!

How do they expect him to carry that? He's so weak; he's unrecognizable. Oh no! He just fell! They're pulling someone from the crowd. What has this day become?? I was expecting death from my own actions just hours ago and now this innocent man is taking my punishment even though he doesn't deserve it.

It should be me struggling to carry that cross. It should be me that has blood in my eyes and my back laid open and shredded. But it's not. Instead, this Jesus guy took my punishment. He did nothing to deserve it. He's completely innocent from everything I can tell.

I'm shocked. Terrified. What has happened today? I am free because of Jesus. I can walk away because he paid my penalty. He paid my cost. I deserved death and he deserves freedom. Yet I'm the one free. As I watch him hang there struggling to breathe, it should be me on that cross. MY sins hold him there. I am Barabbas, the murderer. It should've been me on that tree.

I'm humbled. Terrified they're going to realize their mistake but no one has looked twice at me. It's like I was completely forgiven of everything. Like I switched his innocence for my guilt. How can this be?

I can go home tonight because he paid my price. I cannot forget that. I was a dead man until Jesus stepped in. I will spend the rest of my days telling everyone that will listen.