Barabbas

Alone and God forsaken
In a cold dark prison cell
My destiny with death assured
My place reserved in hell
For murder, insurrection
And rebellion I must pay
The authorities have spoken
I can't live another day

On a Roman cross for certain death
With a cat-of-nine for pain
High on a hill for all to see
With nakedness for shame
Citizens from far and wide
Will see my crimes accursed
And be reminded to obey
Or their fate might be worse

When suddenly my cell was opened wide
A crumpled hunk of man was tossed inside

I said I am Barabbas
And today I take my place
In that pantheon of heroes
That this world's tried to erase
Consider it an honor son
To share this cell with me
And perhaps you'll earn a mention
When they write my history

He lay there still and lifeless
Friend, are you already dead?
Slowly he rose to his knees
And slower turned his head
His beatings had been worse than mine
Our futures both looked dim
I wondered how he could survive
'Till sorrow did him in.

He told me he was Jesus
Now somewhere I'd heard that name
Some Jewish mystic healer
With a zealot's claim to fame
By now he'd risen to his feet
And he looked me in the eye
And for the first time in my wicked life
I knew that I deserved to die

Outside I heard the crowds cry out my name
The time had come for me to claim my fame

Because I am Barabbas
Hear those people cry my name
When my death starts a rebellion
I'll beat those Romans at their game
But here with you friend, face to face
I find myself unsure
As if there were some fault in me
That you might, faultless, cure

Now Jesus started speaking
Though it may have been a dream
How could my life be so well known
By one I'd never seen
Was it shame or shock or unbelief
That showed upon my face
When he offered his forgiveness
Saying He would take my place

The jailers came and took Him
Said I'd best get out of there
I said but there's no fault in Him
And they said nobody cares
But I followed close behind Him
There was something I must know
When He shouted it is finished
I felt chains fall from my soul

Three days later something happened odd
He rose up from the grave for He is God

And now I am Barabbas
I'm forgiven and restored
Spared once from death I daily rise
To serve my risen Lord
And there is nothing in this world
That means one thing to me
Save that it might be remembered
When He writes His history

He died for me
He died for me
I see Him hanging on a cross
That had been built for me

He died for me
He died for me
For every soul I'll ever meet
And all I'll never see

He died for me
He died for me
And all He wanted was my sins
To hang upon that tree