Who is Barabbas? | Mark 15:6-15, Gen 22:6-14, 1 Peter 2:21-25

Where do we go from here? Jesus’ resurrection victory unleashes man-fearing, defeated disciples to become an unstoppable disciple-maker-multiplying community for all nations and all generations.

Comfort food. We all have a meal or two we go to when we need to be cheered up. The trauma the first disciples experienced after the Passover meal was almost unbearable. How could they move on? Thank God for the resurrection! The new day of the resurrection assures us death is not the end. A new day is coming where death will be no more and where, non surprisingly, Jesus will meet us a the table again with the ultimate comfort food anticipating the Kingdom to come.

A death sentenced criminal last meal is a grace given before the end. This was a meal meant to offer freedom and the joy of a new beginning. The host himself offered forgiveness and abundant life in God’s kingdom and yet, this meal became his last anticipating his imminent death. Paradoxically a gracious life-giving, liberating meal marked Jesus as someone who was born to die as a criminal but was innocent as a lamb. Jesus’s last supper is an invitation to trade places where he offers his life for our death and where we surrender our life for his glory.…