Today's Reading is About You: One Year Bible Reading for February 12

 Today we read from the following passages in the One Year Bible:

Exodus 34:1-35:9
Matthew 27:15-31
Psalm 33:12-22
Proverbs 9:1-6

And let's look at Matthew 27. We read about Barabbas, who was a sinner for sure, probably a thief and ruffian. But the crowd chose him to release, and Jesus to crucify. You're probably familiar with that story.

But let's step back and look at the name Barabbas. Now, you may or may not be aware that Bar means "son" in Hebrew. So, for instance, Simon Bar Jonah means Simon, son of Jonah. Bartimaeus means son of Timaeus. You get the idea. And you probably ARE aware that abba means "father" in Hebrew (and Aramaic). It's kind of like saying "daddy". You can picture little Hebrew children calling their dads "abba!" as one of their first words. Put the two together, and you get "Bar-abbas", or "son of the father". That is... everyman. Right? I mean, we're all sons (or daughters) of some father or other. 

And that's appropriate because... we were freed because Jesus was crucified. You and I are Barabbas, standing there in our sinfulness, deserving to die. We are "son of a father", destined for the cross and death and hell. But in a stunning turn of events that we still can't believe, Barabbas (which is you and me) is freed. Forgiven of his crimes and let go, to go and live a life worth living.

Let's make our lives worth living, too.

God, thanks for freeing us by dying on that cross.