Don’t worry! This post is not about the identify game taking place in society today where you can “identify” as anyone of anything and actually become that person or thing. That belief is not scriptural and certainly is not a part of my Christian experience. I was simply asked once, “Which person mentioned in the Bible do you most identify with?”
That question isn’t easy. The Bible is a history of God’s relationship with humans from the creation of Adam and Eve. Every person mentioned in scripture has some human characteristics that I recognize and understand. My answer may surprise some of my avid readers, but I think every Christian will be able to follow my reasoning.
My answer was Barabbas. Although he is mentioned in all four of the Gospels as the person the crowd chose to be released before Passover instead of Jesus, all we know about him is that he was a criminal on death row scheduled to be executed. What could I, or any Christian for that matter, have in common with such an individual? Only the most important thing – Jesus died in his place.
I was eleven years old when I discovered that I was on death row; sentenced to die for my sinful nature. But then I learned that God sent His Son to die in my place. I still remember that freedom from the penalty of sin I felt as I accepted His gift of eternal life through His sacrifice on the cross in my place. Yes, Jesus died in my place and He died in your place as well.
I have no way of knowing if Barabbas ever accepted Jesus as his savior, but he could never escape the fact that Jesus took his place on the cross on that Good Friday. I am also sure that the word of Jesus’ resurrection reached his ears and his heart.