The Bad Guys

[JohnDB]

Barrabas and Judas of Iscariot.

Bar-Rabbi...the son of our Father or more commonly known as a preacher/politician.
He said what people wanted to hear...even doing what people wanted to see...like revenge and revolution in the form of sedition against the Roman Empire because they were heathen. He had proclaimed himself as a type of Messiah. He was set free so that Jesus, the real Messiah, could die.

Judas.... Knew Jesus was the Messiah... The very Son of God. Not a doubt in his mind. But he wanted to make the Earthly Heavenly Kingdom happen now and thought that he could force God's hand into making it happen by endangering God's Son. This Kingdom was all about his personal benefit. He would become a ruler in the Kingdom. Not THE person in charge but high on the food chain and would be important...after all he was the only other Apostle from Judah. Appointed to leadership by God.
Oh what tangled webs we weave!

Amazing that all these things continue today.

 

[JohnDB]

Barrabas really sticks this year in the comparing of the two.

Barrabas had committed murder while Jesus raised people from the dead.
Jesus said to pay taxes...Barrabas was against that.
Jesus told us what we needed to hear while Barrabas sucked up to Pharisees and other experts in the Law.

Jesus promoted loving kindness while Barrabas promoted fear, resistance and hate.

Jesus was holy while Barrabas promoted ceremonial cleanliness.

And yet the same continues today.