Lenten Lesson 3 -- What would Barabbas choose?

The Rev. Clark Bates, pastor at McCook Christian Church, confers with the Rev. Dr. Mary Hendricks, pastor at St. Alban's Episcopal Church immediately before opening the third 2011 Community Lenten service at First Congregational Church Friday afternoon. (Dawn Cribbs/McCook Daily Gazette)

Of all of the choices we make each day -- what to wear, what to eat, where to live -- no decision is more important than the one we make to the question "What will you do with Jesus?"

The Rev. Clark Bates, pastor at McCook Christian Church posed that question to an audience of 98 Friday afternoon at the third 2011 Community Lenten service at First Congregational Church, but not before revealing how some have already answered.

Taking his text from Mark 15:6-15, Bates revealed the identities of those who faced a choice on that fateful day in Jerusalem after Jesus was betrayed and brought before Pilate for sentencing.

Jeannie Hauxwell, Dan Rempel and Diane Pollmann, members of McCook Christian Church, offer a choice of baked lasagnas to the luncheon crowd that gathered in the fellowship hall at First Congregational Church following the Community Lenten Service Friday afternoon. (Dawn Cribbs/McCook Daily Gazette)

Pilate chose the path of least resistance, Bates said, "even though he thoroughly examined Christ and found no fault in him."

It wasn't an easy decision for Pilate, Bates admitted. And he did try to appease the Jewish leaders and the crowd, to deter them from their chosen path, going so far as to offer to release either Jesus, an innocent as far as he was concerned or Barabbas, a convicted insurrectionist with a nefarious history.

When the crowd yelled "We want Barabbas!" Pilate had only one more question, "Then what shall I do with this Jesus?"

"Crucify him!" the crowd responded with one voice. And another traveler takes the path of least resistance.

What about us? Bates wondered. When it comes to Jesus do we take the path of least resistance? It's easy to be "spiritual" when you're with spiritual people, and for some, it's easy to be "worldly" when you're with worldly people. We do that because it's comfortable. "The heart of the matter is this," said Bates. "Are you a Christ follower or a crowd follower?"

The Jewish leaders also made a choice -- based on self-fulfillment. Even Pilate recognized their envy of Jesus, according to Scripture and surely they thought "If we could just get rid of him, then things would go back to the way they were."

Bates explained, "Jesus drew the crowds they craved. He received the praise they thought was their due. And, each time they engaged him in debate, they ended up looking foolish." Jesus wasn't what they wanted from their religion.

Bates used the example of a friend of his who, when counseling seekers of faith, shows them a jar of beans and asks them to guess how many are in it.

Then he asks them what their favorite song is.

Then he reveals the number of beans in the jar and the one who comes closest celebrates.

"Now, which of these songs is the 'right' favorite?", he asks. That answer is impossible to pinpoint, his audience explains. "It's based on individual taste."

Fair enough, the pastor says. Then he asks, "When you decide what to believe, will it be like the jar of beans, a fixed answer; or more like choosing your favorite song?"

Most, Bates said, choose what to believe based on what fulfills their needs, what gives them pleasure.

"That's not reality," he said. "Jesus said, 'You must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.'"

It's not about self-fulfillment, Bates continued, "it's about surrender."

Jesus also had a choice that day.

"He chose the path of sacrifice," Bates said. He made that choice in the garden and would not be turned from it.

"In fact, in the garden when Peter took his sword and cut off a man's ear, Jesus revealed his freedom to choose when he said, "'Put your sword back in its place,' Jesus said to him, 'for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?'" in Matthew 26:52 and 53.

Jesus chose the path of sacrifice, Bate said, when he surrendered in the garden, saying,"Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done."

Barabbas also has a choice to make before this day is done, Bates said.

Imagine you're Barabbas, Bates says, you're locked up, waiting only for an escort to the cross prepared for those convicted of crimes against the state. You can't hear the dialogue between Pilate and Jesus. You can't hear Pilate's question to the crowd, "who shall I release?" All you can hear is the name "Barabbas" repeatedly shouted by the crowd.

"The next thing he hears is the crowd's response to Pilate's question, 'what shall I do with Jesus," Bates says.

"Crucify him!" is the crowd's answer. Then the jailer comes. "Barabbas is expecting to be executed," Bates explains. "But the jailer says, 'You're free. Go.'

"Did he see them stripping Jesus as he left, tying him to a whipping post?" Bates wondered. "Did he ask, 'who is that man?' Did anyone tell Barabbas 'this is the man who took your place?'"

If so, Bates said, Barabbas had to decide "What do I do with the gift of life Jesus gave?"

Bates quoted the John Oxenham poem "The Misty Flats"

To every many there openeth

as the final challenge to the audience, closing with this prayer "Jesus took Barabbas' place on the cross just as he has taken my place and yours. He took the path of sacrifice to purchase salvation for each one of us. I pray each day we will choose Jesus."

The Rev. Dr. Mary Hendricks, pastor at St. Alban's Episcopal Church served as worship leader and Joyce Hershberger was the organist. Members of McCook Christian Church prepared the luncheon that followed the service.

The 2011 Community Lenten series continues Friday, 12:05 p.m., at First Congregational Church, with the Rev. Bruce Lester, pastor at McCook Evangelical Free Church, presenting the lesson "Simon of Cyrene is Compelled."

A free will offering to support the work of the Red Willow County Ministerial Association is accepted at the entrance to the sanctuary. A second offering is accepted in the fellowship hall to help offset the cost of the food.