So Jesus died
Barabbas was free.
He's innocent, Barabbas.
He died in your place,
For your sins, Barabbas!
If you had died, Barabbas,
Your death had been just,
Like your two friends there.
But he's innocent, Barabbas.
His death is not for his sins
But for yours.
If you had died, Barabbas,
The world had lost one criminal,
But in his death
You and the world
Have gained a Redeemer.
Drawn by fascination
Into the watching crowd,
Trying to be nobody,
Yet very conscious
Of himself,
Thoughts
Come crashing in
As that Man dies!
He is alive, Barabbas!
Haven't you heard?
The cross would have finished you,
But not Jesus!
That means
We haven't finished with him
By that cross.
They wanted you, Barabbas,
Instead of Jesus,
And he died instead of you,
But he was innocent.
He wants you, Barabbas,
Sinner though you are!
Won't you say to him,
"Not Barabbas but Jesus!"?
It is not told
What Barabbas thought of Jesus,
Or if this one
Who shared a name
Ever came to share a life.
Yet for us all
There stands a choice
To choose the broken
Or the One who mends,
To choose the sin
Or sin's Redeemer!
Won't you say to him,
"Not Barabbas but Jesus"?