**The Release of Barabbas** Community Favorite
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Forum for spiritual, inspirational and religiously oriented poetry and discussion.
Autoprune 12 months
Forum for spiritual, inspirational and religiously oriented poetry and discussion.
Autoprune 12 months
**The Release of Barabbas** Community Favorite
Winner of the Community Favorite Award: May 2008
The Release of Barabbas
A solitary soul
Encased in a damp
dark, dank dungeon cell.
All alone, yet surrounded
by similar prisoners.
Each of them
corralled and caged
enslaved, enraged.
All together, all alone.
Buried one story under the ground
Yet one story above them
another story unfolds.
A quick forming, fuming accusing crowd
is gathering, slathering for the kill.
Yet he remains unaware
until
he hears a deafening yell.
His body shivers and shakes,
he starts to pace,
when suddenly they cry out again.
"GIVE US BARABBAS"
What could this mean?
The sheer volume of the crowd
nearly knocks him to the floor!
Surely the slaying of a simple servant
couldn't cause such a furor?
After every other
murder, robbery or rape,
he'd always managed an escape.
But finally within this web he'd weaved
he was now caught.
Fate, it seemed, had drawn his lot.
Now, it was his life, which they sought
Suddenly louder, he hears the crowd.
"CRUCIFY HIM!!! CRUCIFY HIM!!!"
This latest outburst
nearly brings him to his knees!
He hears the guard,
the rattling of keys.....
......he can hardly believe he is free!!!!
He is smiling and humming
when he happens upon
the crucifixion crowd.
Pressing forward, he breaks through,
emerging directly below
the man on the cross
who has taken his place
between two thieves.
He looks up
and a single drop of blood
drips down
from beneath the thorny crown.
The wait for that single drop
feels like eternity.
The weight of that single drop
knocks him to his knees
Barabbas, speaking of his past.
Christ, looking toward his future.
Together, they both whisper
"It is finished"
The Release of Barabbas
A solitary soul
Encased in a damp
dark, dank dungeon cell.
All alone, yet surrounded
by similar prisoners.
Each of them
corralled and caged
enslaved, enraged.
All together, all alone.
Buried one story under the ground
Yet one story above them
another story unfolds.
A quick forming, fuming accusing crowd
is gathering, slathering for the kill.
Yet he remains unaware
until
he hears a deafening yell.
His body shivers and shakes,
he starts to pace,
when suddenly they cry out again.
"GIVE US BARABBAS"
What could this mean?
The sheer volume of the crowd
nearly knocks him to the floor!
Surely the slaying of a simple servant
couldn't cause such a furor?
After every other
murder, robbery or rape,
he'd always managed an escape.
But finally within this web he'd weaved
he was now caught.
Fate, it seemed, had drawn his lot.
Now, it was his life, which they sought
Suddenly louder, he hears the crowd.
"CRUCIFY HIM!!! CRUCIFY HIM!!!"
This latest outburst
nearly brings him to his knees!
He hears the guard,
the rattling of keys.....
......he can hardly believe he is free!!!!
He is smiling and humming
when he happens upon
the crucifixion crowd.
Pressing forward, he breaks through,
emerging directly below
the man on the cross
who has taken his place
between two thieves.
He looks up
and a single drop of blood
drips down
from beneath the thorny crown.
The wait for that single drop
feels like eternity.
The weight of that single drop
knocks him to his knees
Barabbas, speaking of his past.
Christ, looking toward his future.
Together, they both whisper
"It is finished"
Last edited by gordy on Fri Dec 12, 2003 11:36 am, edited 2 times in total.
-----------------------------
My Jesus hung out with thieves and sluts and liars, which Jesus do you worship?
---Todd Agnew
Perfection is my enemy
Procrastination is his cohort
Persistence is my sword
---Gordy
My Jesus hung out with thieves and sluts and liars, which Jesus do you worship?
---Todd Agnew
Perfection is my enemy
Procrastination is his cohort
Persistence is my sword
---Gordy
The Release of Barabbas
Wow, Gordy, I never saw it from his perspective, how odd, how...incongruous, how insane...how...pivoted on an edge...
I don't know how you feel about the rock-musical, "Jesus Christ, Superstar", but...I felt more during that movie/classic than I did in 6 years of Catholic elementary school.
Disturbing write, in a way.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />
<small>[ 12-06-2002, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: Moongem ]</small>
I don't know how you feel about the rock-musical, "Jesus Christ, Superstar", but...I felt more during that movie/classic than I did in 6 years of Catholic elementary school.
Disturbing write, in a way.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />
<small>[ 12-06-2002, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: Moongem ]</small>
The Release of Barabbas
Great job, Gordy! Keep up the good work. Wonder what you could do with the Ethiopian man that carried Christs cross, when He fell from weakness and exhaustion? There's a challenge for you. How would he have viewed Jesus? (just kidding)
Jim <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
Jim <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
The Release of Barabbas
thank you everyone! this one took quite a while to write, which is unusual for me. i usually write like a microwave, an idea <img border="0" alt="[Lightbulb]" title="" src="graemlins/lightbulb.gif" /> pops into my head and i cook it down on paper in ten minutes. lol. I'm kinda proud of this one. so thank you moon and jim. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />
The Release of Barabbas
Gordy,
Really inspiring write my man. Barrabas has always been kind of an enigma. Who was he, a zealot, a theif. Many different answers by many different people. Your piece identifies what he may have felt. Much more importatn than who he was in my opinion. Awesome!!!
Really inspiring write my man. Barrabas has always been kind of an enigma. Who was he, a zealot, a theif. Many different answers by many different people. Your piece identifies what he may have felt. Much more importatn than who he was in my opinion. Awesome!!!
-
- Mistress of the South
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2002 12:01 am
- Location: Hot Springs National Park, AR
The Release of Barabbas
Nice work -- very moving! I always liked this story, but I really like the perspective you put on it with this.
The Release of Barabbas
thank you bags and leysa for your kind and encouraging words! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[goofy]" title="" src="graemlins/goofy.gif" />
The Release of Barabbas
i always put myself in barabbass' place, or actually anyone in the world. we all have done things or had things done to us, or have feelings that bind us or shackle us, such as hate or lust or resentment or lonliness, addiction, unforgiveness, etc. but once we realize we will never be perfect or righteous and that christ already paid the price for that, and all we have to do is look to his blood to cover up our misgivings then we realize the extent of his sacrafice. whoops i got a little preachy there....sorry lol <img border="0" alt="[Angel]" title="" src="graemlins/angel.gif" />
<small>[ 12-24-2002, 10:01 PM: Message edited by: gordy ]</small>
<small>[ 12-24-2002, 10:01 PM: Message edited by: gordy ]</small>
The Release of Barabbas
hmmmmm i cant seem to write anyhing new lately so D.A.G gonit <img border="0" alt="[Exclamation]" title="" src="graemlins/exclamation.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[goofy]" title="" src="graemlins/goofy.gif" />
<small>[ 01-08-2003, 06:24 AM: Message edited by: gordy ]</small>
<small>[ 01-08-2003, 06:24 AM: Message edited by: gordy ]</small>
The Release of Barabbas
I enjoyed the perspective on this work. Keep up the good work!
....ps....Writing is all about "overflow" as the bible says "from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". If nothing is overflowing your heart...then fill it with more & more "data" rather than trying to squeeze a drop of poetry out. Do the "remote" work first...then the work will flow out. Just a few thoughts. <img border="0" alt="[ThumbsUp]" title="" src="graemlins/thumbsup.gif" />
....ps....Writing is all about "overflow" as the bible says "from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". If nothing is overflowing your heart...then fill it with more & more "data" rather than trying to squeeze a drop of poetry out. Do the "remote" work first...then the work will flow out. Just a few thoughts. <img border="0" alt="[ThumbsUp]" title="" src="graemlins/thumbsup.gif" />
-
- Clearwater Poet
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2003 12:01 am
- Location: N.E. Iowa
- Contact:
The Release of Barabbas
Nicely done Gordy. After two thousand years, things haven't changed much around here. Have they???
Peace and Love,
Twofeathers
Peace and Love,
Twofeathers
The Release of Barabbas
this piece sparked many questions for me that i took to a friend of mine who happens to be a pastor, yes a pastor, i'm not a total hethen you guys, anyway, thank you for sparking me, this is a view i hadnt thought about before and i guess you could say it will be with me for a long while to come.....btw, pastor thanks you too, he was " overjoyed " to see me. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Computer]" title="" src="graemlins/comp10.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[ThumbsUp]" title="" src="graemlins/thumbsup.gif" />
The Release of Barabbas
cooooooooool!!!!!! that is awesome! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> so what did your pastor think of the poem?
The Release of Barabbas
The wait for that single drop
feels like eternity.
The weight of that single drop
knocks him to his knees
Such wonderful drama. Very well written. I really enjoyed this chance you give for contemplating Our Lord. And he new he gave Barabbas that second chance. Such a merciful God. We should be imitators, hay <img border="0" alt="[ThumbsUp]" title="" src="graemlins/thumbsup.gif" />
~Mary O
feels like eternity.
The weight of that single drop
knocks him to his knees
Such wonderful drama. Very well written. I really enjoyed this chance you give for contemplating Our Lord. And he new he gave Barabbas that second chance. Such a merciful God. We should be imitators, hay <img border="0" alt="[ThumbsUp]" title="" src="graemlins/thumbsup.gif" />
~Mary O
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