ChosenRebel's Blog

We are a sports dominated culture like no culture before us. I include myself. A day isn’t complete for me in the Spring, Summer or Fall without an update on how the Phillies did. Ditto for the Fall and Winter in relation to the Philadelphia Eagles. Both those major sports sometime have so-called “Blockbuster Trades.” So maybe this metaphor makes sense to many. Here’s my version of the worst trade ever.

In One Corner:    Barabbas

• A notorious prisoner of Rome in the city of Jerusalem                                                   (Matthew 27:26; Luke 23:18)
• An insurrectionist                                                                                                                   (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19)
• A murderer.                                                                                                                              (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19, 25)
• A robber.                                                                                                                                    (John 18:40)
• The one called for by the jealous mob intent on killing Jesus.                                    (Matthew 27:18; Luke 23:19)
• The chief priest’s and elder’s trade bait for the crowd in order to destroy Jesus.   (Matthew 27:18, 20; Luke 23:21)
• The answer to Pilate’s question, “who should I release?”                                              (Matthew 27:21; Luke 23:21)

In the Other Corner:   Jesus

• The creator of the universe                                                               (John 1:3, 10; Colossians 1:16)
• The One who revealed grace and truth                                         (John 1:14)
• The Messiah of Israel                                                                         (Matthew 1:1, 17; Mark 1:1)
• The Redeemer of mankind                                                                (Isaiah 41:14)
• The Savior of the world                                                                     (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14)
• The Suffering Servant of Isaiah                                                      (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)
• The Son of Man                                                                                  (Matthew 8:20; 9:6; John 5:27)
• The Son of God                                                                                   (Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 4:3, 41)
• The Prince of Peace                                                                           (Isaiah 9:6)
• The Soon and Coming King                                                            (John 14:3)
• The One who is coming to judge the living and the dead.       (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

Clearly the “worst trade” of all time, and yet, in the sovereign plan of God, God used it to save all who place their trust in Him who died and rose for our salvation.

²² “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— ²³ this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. ²⁴ But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

Acts 2:22-24 (NASB95)

All praise to God.