There was always great joy in Judea when a son was born! This was a blessing for any poor farm family for it meant another worker would be available to help with the cultivating, planting, and harvesting.
When this beautiful baby boy was born, he brought great joy and expectation to his parents: Eitan [meaning ‘one who is steady and very bold’] and Noam [meaning ‘loveliness or satisfaction’]. They deliberated about their new son’s name and wanted to give him one that would set him apart from all other Jewish boys. They considered Moses – the great law-giver. They also thought of David – the great king! But the proud father won out and convinced his dear wife to name the baby Jesus. It was the contemporary name for Joshua, the one who was mentored by Moses and then led the people of Israel into the Promised Land! His name meant ‘savior’.
Yes, this family had great expectations for their son! They would name him ‘Jesus’ – savior! They wrapped him tightly in cloths and held him close – only after checking him from head to foot and seeing that he was perfect in every way! He would be a fine son! Father and mother loved their son and cared for him attentively during the troubled times of Roman occupation. They wanted their son to revere God, be kind and treat all people fairly.
But all plans, dreams and expectations are not fulfilled.
When Jesus was a young boy, tensions associated with Roman rule erupted into many violent conflicts across Israel. A tax census placed upon the people by Quirinius triggered an uprising by Judas the Galilean and many died as the Romans responded with fierce and relentless force to quell the disturbance.
Jesus’ father, Eitan, was caught in the conflict while on a trip to town for supplies and was killed. He lay in the street as his blood mingled with the sandy soil of his homeland. When news was brought to Noam, she was crushed that her love had been so abruptly taken from her. Jesus, being only six, couldn’t understand why his father wouldn’t be coming home. The house was filled with his mother’s anguish and tears.
Life was hard for the mother and son! Jesus was too young, too weak and unskilled to be able to fill the shoes of his father. They were forced to be dependent on his mother’s larger family system to be able to survive. This precious little boy, who had been the treasure of his father’s eye, was left alone with a mother who struggled for their very survival. As he began to realize that his father would never be coming home, Jesus turned to anger and bitterness instead of despair.
The father who had thrown him into the air and caught him with delight,the father who tickled him until he was weary from laughing,
the father who held him and told him stories of his own childhood,
HE WAS GONE FOREVER!
And Jesus grew up hating the Roman soldiers for what they had done to his father!
His mother tried to steer him toward acceptance and forgiveness, but Jesus’ determination was set. He would rebel against Roman oppression! He would get even with those who had so brutally taken his father away. When the time was right, he would even the score.
Noam lamented the dark moods of her son. She tried her best to redirect his thinking and help him find a purposeful life, but the roots of Jesus’ hatred ran deep! His hurt was inconsolable! He was bent on revenge!
As time passed, they managed to survive with the help of family and friends. Noam developed skills at making pottery and sold it at their village market. Through the gracious help of her sister, Shira [meaning ‘song’], and Shira’s husband, they were able to get by. Jesus was able to attend the village school and grow up among cousins and friends. But, his anger was noticeable and his best friends were few – and also rebellious.
As he progressed in age, Jesus eventually left home and made his way to Jerusalem. He wanted to find a way to hurt the Romans and they were more numerous in this center-city of the nation. His companions shared his hatred and they schemed to create chaos in the city through subversion and disrespect. One day, their efforts were rewarded as they set a trap for a small band of Roman soldiers. Chaos erupted and a man was killed in the confusion. Jesus was quickly captured and imprisoned. After having been beaten, he lay for days tending his wounds as best he could.
Then, to his surprise, he was suddenly led from his prison to the Praetorium, where he was placed on a platform along with – to his immense surprise – Pilate, the Roman governor! What was going on? Why had he been brought here? What was going to happen to him?
It was then that he noticed another man, also standing between two Roman soldiers. He quickly discovered that this man was also named Jesus. He’d heard of this man! He was a good man, a rabbi, who had healed many and fed multitudes. He had often thought about searching him out to hear what he had to say, but it had never happened – until today.
He could see that Jesus of Nazareth had been severely beaten. His face was distorted and his eyes nearly swollen closed. The soldiers had draped a purple cloth around his shoulders and had crushed a crown of thorns on his head. Jesus thought of his own father and the blood that his mother had cleaned from his body before they buried him. He felt sorry for Jesus of Nazareth and wanted to reach out to him and help him. But he, too, was a prisoner; a prisoner who was trying his best to figure out why he had been brought to this place.
Suddenly, Pilate stepped forward and called to the large crowd that had gathered: “You know it is our custom to release a prisoner today in honor of your feast. Which would you have me release today: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus, the King of the Jews?"
Jesus Barrabas [bar = son, abba = father - therefore, “son of the father”] was shocked to hear his name being called out in unison by the mob. Pilate seemed angry with the response of the people. He called for a basin, washed his hands publicly, then said, “I’m washing my hands of responsibility for this man’s death. From now on, it’s in your hands. You’re judge and jury.”
After those words fell from Pilate’s lips, the soldiers released Barabbas and took Jesus of Nazareth away to be crucified.
The precious “son of his father” was released, while the “Son of God the Father” was paraded away to become the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world!
This Jesus of Nazareth, this Son of Man and Son of God, died in our place just the same as He died in Barabbas’ place!
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE AS A RESULT OF BEING SET FREE?
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