To me one of the big parts of the story of the cross is when the crown chooses Barabbas over Jesus. In that moment when they all yell, "CRUCIFY!" I want to think that I would be different. I want to think that I would say, we want Jesus and not Barabbas. But knowing what I know I think I would have to stand and shout for His death. It sounds harsh. It sounds wrong, but here is what I know. I am a sinner. Every time I try to forget that I find myself chasing after sin again. I am a sinner and because of that I deserve to die. The only way for my sins to be paid--the only way for me to have a relationship with God--was for Jesus to die.

I can't believe that the King of kings would suffer and die for me. But I do know that my whole life, all of me cries out for a savior so I have to stand with the rest and shout, "CRUCIFY!" because I can't save myself.

For that same idea in poem form check out The Cost.

I have this idea for a responsive reading that will probably never work, but if it did it would be pretty powerful, check it out after the jump.

The audience has one line that they repeat after the main reader. It is in bold.

I have tried to be good enough on my own

Crucify Him

I have tried to fix my own life

Crucify Him

I have tried to control my thought, my actions, my speech, my life

Crucify Him

But at every turn I seem to fail

Crucify Him

I am wrong, messed up broken, and desperate

Crucify Him

I am a sinner plain and simple

Crucify Him

I am lost and lonely and empty inside

Crucify Him

I need something, someone to make me whole

Crucify Him

I need someone to make me clean

Crucify Him

I need someone to make me new

Crucify Him

GOD! I have tried to be good enough

Crucify Him

But I have failed again and again

Crucify Him

But I stand here in this place and say

Crucify Him

Because I need a savior.

The silence, silence for so long that it hurts then sing "Once Again" by Matt Redman or "Wonderous Cross"