| My full name is Jesus Barabbas and I have to be the | | | | large stone rolled across the opening. So, this is where |
| luckiest man alive. I was sentenced to die on the cross | | | | Jesus is buried. The servant girl said he would come |
| for sedition and murder. The Romans call me a | | | | back to life. I wonder if he will. I will keep an eye on this |
| terrorist. The religious Jews call me a freedom fighter. I | | | | tomb and see what happens. If he comes back to life, I |
| met the man in prison where we were both waiting for | | | | will believe in him. |
| the Romans to decide where and when we would die. | | | | I am getting tired; this is the 2nd day with very little |
| I didn't have a chance to talk to him but the guards told | | | | sleep. The sun is down and I must get some sleep. I |
| me his name was also Jesus. My friends all call me | | | | awoke with a start and peered through the bushes at |
| Barabbas, son of the father. | | | | the tomb. The two Roman soldiers that were guarding |
| I stood there next to him, before Pilate as he decided | | | | it seemed to be asleep. As I watched, a bright light lit |
| our fate. Not really he, but the crowd seemed to be in | | | | up the tomb and a shining figure rolled back the stone |
| control this day. Pilate was going to release one of us, | | | | as if it were a pebble. As I watched, a person that |
| as was the custom. Surely, it wouldn't be me. I am far | | | | looked like Jesus walked out of the tomb. I can see his |
| worse than he is. The guards told me he was in for | | | | hands and they are wounded. This was Jesus. He |
| some kind of religious crime and I am here for trying to | | | | was alive again. It is a miracle. Now I believe what the |
| overthrow Rome. I will die and he will go free. | | | | servant girl said. He is alive. I need to find her and find |
| The crowd was shouting. What was that, my name, | | | | out more about what I have seen and what I need to |
| Barabbas? They wanted to set me free. They | | | | do now. |
| wanted the other Jesus to die. Is that possible? This | | | | I found her back at our meeting place. She was taking |
| good man is to die for me. Fate is smiling on me this | | | | time to eat her meal after serving the others. |
| day. Pilate washed his hands; set me free and turned | | | | "What is your name?" |
| Jesus over to the people to die. | | | | "Debra." |
| I didn't think I would ever walk these streets again. | | | | "Can we talk about Jesus?" |
| What would I do now? I feel different. I headed to find | | | | "Yes, I would love to." |
| the other gang members to see what was happening. | | | | I told her what I had seen at the tomb and that Jesus |
| I found Judas and James and we went to our hideout. | | | | was alive. I noticed that she was weeping. |
| As we entered the room, my friends also shouted my | | | | "Tell me more about him. I believe he rose from the |
| name. | | | | dead. What else do I need to believe?" |
| "Barabbas, how did you get out?" | | | | "He died on that cross for each of us. He took our |
| "They let me go free." | | | | place and paid for our sin. I heard that one of thieves |
| "No! How could that be?" | | | | who died with Jesus believed in him and Jesus told him |
| "Jesus of Nazareth took my place." | | | | he would that day be with him in Paradise. You have |
| "Man, are you lucky, now we can get on with bringing | | | | to believe that Jesus died for your sins, and that he |
| down the Romans and filling our pockets." | | | | took your place on the cross. Will you believe?" |
| "Let me think about that some. I don't feel like I used to. | | | | "Yes, I believe. It is easy for me to believe that he died |
| I came close to death and now I am free. That causes | | | | in my place. The crowd picked me and he went to die. |
| me to think about what I am doing and how I am doing | | | | It is easy for me to believe that I have sinned. I have |
| it." | | | | plotted, stolen and killed. I now believe that he paid on |
| "Hey, don't back out on us now, we have some great | | | | the cross for my sins." |
| jobs planned out. We may have to kill a few more | | | | Debra said, "will you kneel and pray with me to Jesus? |
| people but there is lots of loot to be had." | | | | Will you ask him to come into your life and make you |
| "Let me think about it." | | | | the person he wants you to be?" |
| I stayed for a meal and one of the servant girls caught | | | | We knelt right there is the eating room of our robbers |
| my eye. When she waited on me, I asked her, "Do you | | | | den and I became a new man. I rose from my knees |
| know what happened in the city today?" | | | | and felt like I had just been born. I rushed out to find |
| "Yes, I do, they killed my Savior and I loved him so | | | | my friends to tell them what had happened. Some |
| much." | | | | wondered if I was crazy. Others just walked away |
| "Do you believe in Jesus?" | | | | mumbling, but others asked questions and wanted to |
| "Yes I do and I wish you would too. He will heal all your | | | | know more. |
| hurts." | | | | I had to tell everyone about my new faith in Jesus. I |
| "How could he do that? He is dead and the dead don't | | | | found some of his disciples and they helped me to |
| come back." | | | | learn more about him. I had been zealous in my former |
| "He said he would come back," she replied, with a tear | | | | calling and that didn't change. Some warned me to be |
| streaking down her cheek. | | | | careful, but I rushed about telling everyone I saw about |
| "I have to think, can I talk to you later?" | | | | Jesus. The religious people didn't appreciate my zeal |
| "Yes, of course, I love to talk about the Master." | | | | and told me repeatedly to quiet down about Jesus. I |
| Here I am wandering around the streets like one of the | | | | didn't and they began to plot against me. The Romans |
| beggars. What can I do? My former life didn't look so | | | | came to talk to me to find out if I was again on the |
| good any more. I had a close brush with a horrible | | | | sedition trail but I told them about Jesus. They also |
| death and if I wasn't careful, I would be right back in | | | | warned me to hush up with that talk, but I didn't listen. |
| that mess. I need another job, oh, what can I do? I think | | | | Here I am, in prison again. The chief priests lied about |
| I will go over to where Jesus was crucified and see if I | | | | me and the Romans believed them. The peace was |
| can find out how it went. It looks like there is still a | | | | fragile and the Romans didn't want any problems. I am |
| Roman guard there, but the crosses are empty. | | | | a problem. My trial went quickly. This time nobody |
| "Do you know where the bodies are?" I asked the | | | | called my name and I was sentenced to die on the |
| guard. | | | | cross. I was ready and they took me away. I would |
| "The two on each side are in pauper's graves but the | | | | die for my Savior. As I hung on the cross in agony, I |
| center one, Jesus, was taken away by his friends. | | | | thought about how Jesus did this for me and for |
| There is a garden tomb by that rich man's house over | | | | everyone. It was becoming difficult to breathe but I |
| there. I think that is where they took him." | | | | scanned the crowd one last time. I could hardly see |
| "Thanks." | | | | now. I spotted Debra and her eyes met mine. She |
| I walked over to the rich man's home and peeked | | | | cried out, "Barabbas, Jesus loves you." |
| through the bushes. There were many men and | | | | I heard my name called and then, as all turned black. I |
| women on their knees by the tomb. There was a | | | | knew I was going to be with Jesus. |