Here I sit in my sparse cell with my head in my hands and the only light being supplied in here is by the few rays of sunlight my diminutive window will let in.
The window is so small I can barely place my face in it. However, I quit looking out it when I realized I could see Executioner”s Hill in the distance. I could see the silhouettes of the prisoners being executed. I was glad I was far enough away that I could not hear their screams of agony and torment. I knew that someday that would be my fate as well.
Each day I could hear the guard’s footsteps as he walked towards my cell. Was he bringing me my food or was today my last day here on this earth?
My heart would plummet when I would first hear those footsteps. But my fears were relieved when my small plate of food would appear through a narrow slot in my locked door. The next day it would start all over again.
My life had been reduced to those two options, only two, food or death. Those options ended up consuming me. That’s all I could think about during my waking hours and even in my sleep they would haunt me with nightmares.
Then one day I heard the guard approaching my cell but this time something unexpected happened that had not happened since I was placed inside. The guard opened the door. He swung it wide open. Well, I knew what that meant. I tried hard to hold back the tears that flooded my face as I realized I would be dead by sunset.
As the door began to open everything moved in slow motion. My thoughts went to my future that was about to be taken away from me. I would never embrace my wife again. I would not be able to see my children grow up. My grandchildren would not have a grandfather to spoil them.
“Get up and get out. You have been freed,” the guard shouted.
My tears flowed even stronger as I never thought that would be an option.
“What do you mean I’m free. How did this happen?”
“You got me. All I know, Barabbas, is that some guy named Jesus took your place.”
The window is so small I can barely place my face in it. However, I quit looking out it when I realized I could see Executioner”s Hill in the distance. I could see the silhouettes of the prisoners being executed. I was glad I was far enough away that I could not hear their screams of agony and torment. I knew that someday that would be my fate as well.
Each day I could hear the guard’s footsteps as he walked towards my cell. Was he bringing me my food or was today my last day here on this earth?
My heart would plummet when I would first hear those footsteps. But my fears were relieved when my small plate of food would appear through a narrow slot in my locked door. The next day it would start all over again.
My life had been reduced to those two options, only two, food or death. Those options ended up consuming me. That’s all I could think about during my waking hours and even in my sleep they would haunt me with nightmares.
Then one day I heard the guard approaching my cell but this time something unexpected happened that had not happened since I was placed inside. The guard opened the door. He swung it wide open. Well, I knew what that meant. I tried hard to hold back the tears that flooded my face as I realized I would be dead by sunset.
As the door began to open everything moved in slow motion. My thoughts went to my future that was about to be taken away from me. I would never embrace my wife again. I would not be able to see my children grow up. My grandchildren would not have a grandfather to spoil them.
“Get up and get out. You have been freed,” the guard shouted.
My tears flowed even stronger as I never thought that would be an option.
“What do you mean I’m free. How did this happen?”
“You got me. All I know, Barabbas, is that some guy named Jesus took your place.”
