December 2025 Monthly Letter

Dear Reconcilers,

Guest writer Sheila Graham points out how the daily choices we make can have long-lasting consequences.

They Had a Choice

He came as a tiny baby to a poor family but he was destined to be a king. When Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on a donkey, the people cheered. Finally their Messiah would drive out the Romans and restore their freedom from pagan rule. So much hope and anticipation filled their hearts as they waved the palm branches and threw their coats in his path. Their time had come.

Some of these same people could have freed Jesus from crucifixion, but they chose Barrabus. They welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem as their Messiah, someone who would free them from Roman oppression, but seeing him standing there under Roman guard, he didn’t look much like their champion anymore. Egged on by the religious leaders, they chose the freedom fighter Barrabus.

Barrabus was a murderer and a thief, but he was also a man of war who fought against the Romans. More hope of him than this man preaching turn the other cheek. Turning the other cheek and praying for your enemies were nice words, but they didn’t think he could possibly mean them. Such responses to evil weren’t practical. Even his own disciples were shocked when he meekly allowed himself to be taken by the guards.

How do we as his followers today feel about what Jesus clearly taught in his sermons? Are we any different? Was Jesus a bit naïve? Do we believe Jesus was not serious about what he taught, even though he demonstrated his words by dying on a cross?

If we are honest, we also can be influenced to choose the mighty and powerful over the peacemakers. That’s the way of the world we live in and vengeance in the face of evil seems natural and, if not good, certainly a reasonable response.

We may not be able to control what’s happening in this world, but we can live the way of peace that he taught. Let’s live our lives as kingdom people, true followers of Jesus Christ. They had a choice, so do we.

Sheila Graham has a master’s of arts in religion and a master’s of arts in women’s studies in religion. Among her published writings is The Proverbs 31 Woman and Other Biblical Women, coauthored with Michael Morrison, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, which also addresses the question of what roles women can play in the church today.