The dungeon was filled with darkness and crawling with creatures hidden from sight.  But you could feel them as they ran across your feet.  The floor didn’t feel like rock because of all the years of dirty buildup on them and moisture trickled down your back when you learned against the walls.  It was, to say the least, a miserable place to be in. 

Several men were in the cell but one sat alone in the corner.  The others instinctively would have nothing to do with him.  Some of them may have known him but the others had only heard rumors.  But they knew enough to know that he was dangerous.  He was not only a thief but a murderer.  He was cold and calculating.  By reputation he had lived through impossible fights and had more than once killed his attackers.  It was also rumored that when he stole he killed all witnesses.  He had a heart made of stone.  He cared for no one but himself.

In a moment they heard the guards coming down the hall.  This would not be good.  Usually it meant that someone was in for a beating.  They were fed once a day.  They were thankful for the darkness at feeding time because from the texture of what they were given they were glad that they didn’t have to see it.  But they had already been given their daily ration.  This would be something else.  Often when men were taken from the cell they didn’t return.  They had heard that many were beaten to death.  Each man huddled close nearly fighting to be in the back hidden by the wall.  Perhaps if they were not seen they would not be taken.

Except for the loner; he seemed unconcerned – unafraid.  Perhaps he wanted to die.  He was the one they had come for.  They opened the cell and one of the guards used a whip of a thing to keep the other prisoners from pushing toward the door.  The guards knew that the men were terrified of them and that they wouldn’t even think of making a break for the door, but it seemed to give them something to do to break their own boredom and so they cracked the whip at them anyway.  A few in the front cried out in pain as the whip struck them.

The man was chained and brought from the dirty, stinking cell.  As the guards pushed him along the narrow corridor, chains clanking as he went, he squinted when they reached daylight.  After a time in a place like that you almost forget what daylight looks like and your eyes hurt momentarily as you try to regain focus.

His name was Barabbas.  He was the thief and robber who was offered freedom beside of Jesus Christ.  Barabbas had heard of Him.  He was a “do-gooder.”  What possible reason did He have to be arrested?

He was shoved up close beside of Jesus and he heard Pilate asking the people, “Whom shall I release unto you; Jesus or Barabbas?”  That would be an easy choice for the people to make.  Barabbas, because of his wickedness and crimes, knew that he would soon be ushered back into his dark cell.  He just hoped that a beating wouldn’t be in order before his return.  But to his utter surprise he heard the crowd begin to shout, “Barabbas; Barabbas; give us Barabbas!”  He couldn’t believe his ears.  He took a momentary look at Jesus.  He could see kindness and love in the Man.  How could this be?  Soon he was taken to the back gate of the prison, his chains were removed, the door opened and he was released.  He was free.  But he couldn’t get the picture of love and kindness out of his mind when he had stolen that look at Jesus.  It was as if the Man took his place.

And He did.  In fact Jesus took my place too.  We all were condemned to die because of sin just like Barabbas.  But Jesus became our substitution.  He took on our sin and guilt.  He died for us.  God Himself in Jesus Christ stands along side of us.  The host of Heaven is in the crowd and at the order of God they cry out, “Give us Barabbas,” only the name is yours and mine.  We stand to be freed by God through Jesus Christ.  It is a miracle.  It is a second chance. It is freedom in the Lord.  What will you do with your freedom?  Will you turn to Jesus Christ and allow Him to be your personal Savior?  Or will you go out the gate of your prison house and continue with what you have always known?

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.?  Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.