Barrabas

admin May 17, 2020 1935 0

BARABBAS
(Mark 15: 6-15)
SCENE 1:
Things didn’t turn out as planned.
Nobody was supposed to die.
We had been planning the operation
for weeks, we went through the details
with a fine toothcomb.
We expected nothing but perfect execution.
Nobody was expected to be in the office
that late.
We watched all staff leave at the close of work.
We knew the number of staff, those who
were on leave, those who were on assignment
out of station- we were that detailed.
If you plan a heist like this, you cannot
leave anything to chance, especially if you
want to avoid casualties.
I went in though the roof as planned, landed
in the toilet and switched on the light.
I opened the door and went down the
stairs to open the back door for my partners.
I met her on the staircase.
She screamed, turned and ran down the stairs.
I ran after her and before I could reach her,
she hit the alarm.
I panicked and shot her.
My partners heard the shot.
“Hey, Barabbas- what was that?” Jason asked.
I couldn’t respond.
I was confused.
I knew the police would be here any minute.
I yanked off the communication gadget and
flung it on the floor.
I ran back up the stairs as fast as possible-
I needed to get out fast!
As I climbed out to the roof, I heard the siren.
I expected my other partners would have
escaped.
I was left alone.
I looked down from the roof: police vehicles
were everywhere, flashing their red and blue
lights.
I knew the game was up…
The trial did not take long.
I did not expect it to.
I was caught at the crime scene and the
murder weapon was found on me.
I pleaded guilty to the charges, hoping for a
softer sentence.
The family of the lady I murdered were at
the trial.
I couldn’t look at them in the eye.
It was not planned to end like this!
What was she doing in the office that late?
If she were not there, we would be in Hawaii
or Tahiti right now, enjoying the beach and
drinking Piña colada or something!
I didn’t want to implicate my partners,
so I took the fall for them all. I never saw
them again. I was found guilty and sentenced
to death.
I was not surprised- I just thought pleading
guilty would have gotten me a life imprisonment
sentence.
I was taken from the court to the condemned
men’s cell, awaiting execution…

SCENE 2:
There was a high degree of fervency in the air.
The Man had just been arrested and is in the
Judgment Hall before the Governor.
When He came into the city a few days ago,
people were shouting, dancing and excited
to see Him.
They laid their clothes on the ground for Him
to ride on.
It is ironic that same people are now calling
for His head.
Truth be told, the people are gullible, they were
just being manipulated by the religious leaders.
He had stolen their thunder, they just wanted
to get rid of Him so they could regain their
control.
You could feel the hatred for Him in the air.
A few people who supported Him because
of the miracles He performed on them or
their families were ushered out of the building.
They wanted to be united in condemning Him.
The Governor looked at the Man.
He knew He did nothing worthy of death.
He did nothing worthy of any punishment.
He looked around.
He could see the hatred in the eyes of
everybody in the hall.
But he was a politician: he needed the people
to be on his side. He couldn’t afford to be seen
as anti-people.
He was having difficulty condemning a Man
he knew did nothing wrong.
He stood up: “Ladies and gentlemen, your laws
allow for a prisoner to be released to you this
time of the year. I will release this Man…”
“NOOOO!” the crowd roared!
“Crucify Him! He must die! Away with Him!”
The Governor was taken aback by such venom.
He had never seen the people united against
a Man like this before.
He asked, “Who should I release to you then?”
The religious leaders huddled together in talks.
They whispered to each other and the
information was passed around.
“Barabbas! Release Barabbas!” they screamed.
Barabbas? The Governor was shocked.
He just signed his death warrant.
He is to be executed in a few days.
The Governor knew the family of the woman
Barabbas murdered.
He spoke to her father last week.
He was one of his supporters, he contributed
financially to his success at the polls.
How would he face him?
What would he say?
But the people prevailed and he ordered for
Barabbas to be released and the Man crucified…

SCENE 3:
I was in the cell, oblivious of what was
going on outside.
I had been in the condemned men’s cell
for a few days, I had even lost count.
Five men have already been executed
since I got here.
I knew my time would soon come.
Every time I heard the gate open, I expected
my name to be called out.
That morning, the gate opened again.
I sat up on the bed: “Barabbas!”
I took a deep breath: today is the day!
I had no idea what type of execution I
would face.
I hoped it would be lethal injection-
I heard that was the least painful.
I wouldn’t want to be crucified!
I had witnessed a few and I knew it was
excruciatingly painful.
“Barabbas!” I heard my name again.
I answered, “Yes, sir!” the prison guards
came to my cell and opened the door.
I walked out and stretched out my hands,
expecting handcuffs.
The officer brought out a document and
read out: “Mr. Barabbas, by the power
vested on the Governor, you are hereby
released. You are free to go.”
He turned and marched out.
I wasn’t sure what I just heard.
I turned to the Comptroller General of
Prisons: “What did he just say?”
He eyed me menacingly.
“You are free to go.
The Governor has set you free, all the
charges against you are dropped.”
Is this a joke? What is going on?
“The governor has the power to set free
a prisoner this time of the year.
For whatever reason, he chose you.
Now, get the hell out of here!
That woman you murdered was my
wife’s friend…” Apparently, the Comptroller
General wasn’t very pleased with me.
I couldn’t understand it.
There were prisoners in the other section
who had committed milder offences.
Why me? I signed some documents;
I was stripped of my prison uniform,
wore new clothes and walked out of
the prison, a free man.
It still feels like a dream…