I thought about this post over Easter weekend and over the last week or so, and the passage of Scripture that keeps coming to my mind when I think about the idea of present-day Christians saying, "Give us Barrabas" is Hebrews 5:11 - 6:6, which is a warning to Christ-followers about falling away.
I won't quote the entire passage here, but it ends with this:
"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the common age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over gain and subjecting him to public disgrace." Hebrews 6:4-6
I do think we are witnessing Christians, who have chosen a present-day Barrabas, crucifying Jesus again and subjecting Him to public disgrace. It is an alarming and grievous thing to behold. It will not end well for them.
I'm puzzled by those who accuse those who say"The Jews killed Christ" of anti-Semitism, rather than admit to the facts. Didn't Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, who accused Jesus of blasphemy (not a crime to the Romans), turn Jesus over to the Romans to be tried on false charges of subversion, inciting rebellion, and failure to pay taxes? Didn't Pilate recognize the contrivance by washing his hands, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And wasn't the mob of Jews who chose Barrabas to be freed, thereby condemning Jesus to be crucified?
The same goes for those who brand as anti-Semites those who accuse Netanyahu of war crimes when he has been judged as such by the International Criminal Court.
Charlie, the crowd chooses Barabbas because Jesus' meekness and refusal to fight back, or even to protest his innocence (on his persecutors' terms) is an affront to them. Nothing offends the morally weak more than a physically weak victim who is morally strong.
Thank you Charlie for the willingness to look at the religious hypocrisy of the right and that it not be about sexual or financial impropriety. It brings to light that Christ asks everyone who believes in him, to live a life according to his commandments. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?" Luke 6:45
Thank you, Charlie, for this essay. I love how you weave the Easter story into the current political scenario. And I appreciate that you are claiming your own religious faith - authentic and grounded in the Gospel; in doing so you reclaim it for all Christians who are horrified and saddened by those who have co-opted Christianity for cruelty, for personal gain. Talk about identity theft!
Love to the doggies, past and present. Please give each one a belly rub for me. And I will add to my prayers a supplication for no storms in your area at air time. 🐾🐾
Who raised these people? Yet here we are. Hiding isn't the answer. Character matters now, more than ever. Speak to your MAGA friends and remind them of that simple truth.
Good Friday is confusing. The common denominator for all of us is we get an early weekend in celebration of Spring. Back in the days when eggs cost less than a dollar each, we might boil a dozen or two to decorate the the next day. Christianity has dolled it all up in their analogous way, but the bottom line has always been about new starts, from plants to people. I learned all this from my years attending the Episcopal Church. Celebrate! Lent is over.
And rally at noon for the rule of law. Secular law. Happy Easter!
Trump is a modern version of Barrabas . He’s betrayed the people of the United States as well as of the free world all for a few pieces of silver. His kind do not deserve to be released into society.
This is an Easter comment of personal gratitude to you and your wife.
I am in San Diego, where I traveled to meet my 3-month-old grandson. My daughter is very interested in having me be part of the little boy’s life, but I live in Minnesota.
“One of my favorite Substack writers has a daughter who lives in France,” I told her, “and she and her children visit for a month every summer, along with their French dog.”
“I like that idea,” she said. “I think we’ll have you come out for a month this summer.” I also have a dog.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Now, more than ever, we need good examples. My deepest gratitude to you and your wife this Easter.
What a great sketch which should be framed and hung in a prominent place. As much as I've tried, I've never mastered drawing. I'm in awe of those who have.
What is more frightening to me than the crowd choosing Barabbas, which a crowd often does, is Pilote. In our case, Pilote is not one person, but every member of Congress who does nothing. Every member of Congress who does not compel the executive to come before them. Every member who does not fight for legislation to stop the abuses. Every member who does not do their job as a co-equal branch of government. Every member of Congress who does not uphold their oath to the Constitution.
I thought about this post over Easter weekend and over the last week or so, and the passage of Scripture that keeps coming to my mind when I think about the idea of present-day Christians saying, "Give us Barrabas" is Hebrews 5:11 - 6:6, which is a warning to Christ-followers about falling away.
I won't quote the entire passage here, but it ends with this:
"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the common age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over gain and subjecting him to public disgrace." Hebrews 6:4-6
I do think we are witnessing Christians, who have chosen a present-day Barrabas, crucifying Jesus again and subjecting Him to public disgrace. It is an alarming and grievous thing to behold. It will not end well for them.
I'm puzzled by those who accuse those who say"The Jews killed Christ" of anti-Semitism, rather than admit to the facts. Didn't Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, who accused Jesus of blasphemy (not a crime to the Romans), turn Jesus over to the Romans to be tried on false charges of subversion, inciting rebellion, and failure to pay taxes? Didn't Pilate recognize the contrivance by washing his hands, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And wasn't the mob of Jews who chose Barrabas to be freed, thereby condemning Jesus to be crucified?
The same goes for those who brand as anti-Semites those who accuse Netanyahu of war crimes when he has been judged as such by the International Criminal Court.
Charlie, the crowd chooses Barabbas because Jesus' meekness and refusal to fight back, or even to protest his innocence (on his persecutors' terms) is an affront to them. Nothing offends the morally weak more than a physically weak victim who is morally strong.
Thank you Charlie for the willingness to look at the religious hypocrisy of the right and that it not be about sexual or financial impropriety. It brings to light that Christ asks everyone who believes in him, to live a life according to his commandments. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?" Luke 6:45
Thank you, Charlie, for this essay. I love how you weave the Easter story into the current political scenario. And I appreciate that you are claiming your own religious faith - authentic and grounded in the Gospel; in doing so you reclaim it for all Christians who are horrified and saddened by those who have co-opted Christianity for cruelty, for personal gain. Talk about identity theft!
Love to the doggies, past and present. Please give each one a belly rub for me. And I will add to my prayers a supplication for no storms in your area at air time. 🐾🐾
Who raised these people? Yet here we are. Hiding isn't the answer. Character matters now, more than ever. Speak to your MAGA friends and remind them of that simple truth.
Good Friday is confusing. The common denominator for all of us is we get an early weekend in celebration of Spring. Back in the days when eggs cost less than a dollar each, we might boil a dozen or two to decorate the the next day. Christianity has dolled it all up in their analogous way, but the bottom line has always been about new starts, from plants to people. I learned all this from my years attending the Episcopal Church. Celebrate! Lent is over.
And rally at noon for the rule of law. Secular law. Happy Easter!
Even Jesus was given due process
I read comments by Independents who voted for Trump. It was an interview in the New York Times.
Most were not sorry they voted for him and professed to believe that short time pain is worth long term benefits.
I wondered how many had had higher education.
You have spam on your comments section masquerading as Charlie Sykes.
https://open.substack.com/pub/charliesykes/p/give-us-barabbas?r=247r99&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=110324764
Trump is a modern version of Barrabas . He’s betrayed the people of the United States as well as of the free world all for a few pieces of silver. His kind do not deserve to be released into society.
Christian Nationalism is a heretical mockery of faith.
https://deconstructingkremlinpropaganda.substack.com/p/an-introduction-to-christian-nationalism
https://patricemersault.substack.com/p/holy-hypocrisy-the-distorted-gospel
https://usaf8187.substack.com/p/maga-christianity-is-a-heresy-and
https://donmoynihan.substack.com/p/white-christian-nationalism-the-most
https://andrawatkins.substack.com/p/christian-nationalism-where-dear
https://www.truthaboutthreats.com/p/maga-is-pure-blasphemy-pursuing-theocracy
https://exoprophet.substack.com/p/the-persecution-industrial-complex
This is an Easter comment of personal gratitude to you and your wife.
I am in San Diego, where I traveled to meet my 3-month-old grandson. My daughter is very interested in having me be part of the little boy’s life, but I live in Minnesota.
“One of my favorite Substack writers has a daughter who lives in France,” I told her, “and she and her children visit for a month every summer, along with their French dog.”
“I like that idea,” she said. “I think we’ll have you come out for a month this summer.” I also have a dog.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Now, more than ever, we need good examples. My deepest gratitude to you and your wife this Easter.
We are all Barabbas, and Agent Orange wants to wash his hands of all those you listed..
RESIST!!
What a great sketch which should be framed and hung in a prominent place. As much as I've tried, I've never mastered drawing. I'm in awe of those who have.
What is more frightening to me than the crowd choosing Barabbas, which a crowd often does, is Pilote. In our case, Pilote is not one person, but every member of Congress who does nothing. Every member of Congress who does not compel the executive to come before them. Every member who does not fight for legislation to stop the abuses. Every member who does not do their job as a co-equal branch of government. Every member of Congress who does not uphold their oath to the Constitution.