In support of “The Forgiveness Project,” Nigel Byng was contacted by one of the project’s administrators and invited to participate in a public exhibit. (Location is courtesy of Stanborough Park SDA Church from the 12th to the 26th of April from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.) Nigel responded by crafting a captivating fictitious story about a potential conversation that could have occurred in prison between Barabbas- imprisoned for leading an insurrection and murder- and Jesus, after Jesus had been flogged and before His crucifixion. While the Bible contains no actual text stating that Jesus was ever imprisoned or that this conversation took place, Nigel’s story is told from Jesus’s perspective and is titled “My Last Night With Barabbas.”
“My Last Night With Barabbas,” by Nigel Byng
For the Exhibit of The Forgiveness Project
He was no stranger to violence. The man sitting in front of me had an air of invincibility, the charisma of someone used to chaos, and the ghosts of his victims lingering behind his dark eyes. He offered me a seat next to him on a wooden bench he had styled as his throne.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” He called one of his mates over and instructed them to nurse the wounds on my back.
In prison, kindness was an act reserved for the condemned. I winced as his accomplice attended to the open wounds, my breath coming in spasms.
“I know who you are,” the words required an energy I no longer had.
“It’s a cruel world we live in.” He slid a cup of prison hooch in my direction and when I refused, he shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“I was never one for alcohol,” I closed my eyes as pain surged through my body.
“Where you’re going son, this might be the last taste of heaven you’ll have for a while.” He cracked his neck and a gnarly scar glistened behind his ear. It was one of the badges of a life of crime.
The memory of our first encounter two years ago became clearer as my breathing settled. Some men could put the fear of God inside you just by standing next to them, and he was born with this gift. Teardrop tattoos, three of them under his left eye and several dagger-shaped ones on his arm designed to look like garlands, covered another knife wound.
“You won’t survive the night in this place. The coppers have a few friends on the inside, determined that you won’t see the sunrise.”
I had already known my fate before my arrest, and his concern for my well-being was touching. I squinted as blood from my head wound trickled into my eyes. I was cold, half-naked, and a battered, bloodied mess. I desperately wanted to sleep, but I would not be allowed the refuge of rest by my accusers.
I asked, “How is your daughter?”
“Still a whore. Still a disgrace to the family.” He met my gaze with steely disdain.
“Do you still hate me for what I did that night?”
He shook his head.
His daughter would have been his first victim, but I had intervened on that chilly night, rescuing her from his form of mob justice, and the most horrible and undeserving death.
“You’ve got that messiah complex. You think the world could be a place of kindness and goodwill to all men. It does not work like that, my friend. Just look where that kindness got you.”
He poured the rest of the hooch on the cold ground, and one of his lackeys ran and licked it up off the floor.
“You would have allowed the mob to take your only child in such a manner?” I asked, already aware of his answer.
The guard outside the cell pointed to him and called him over.
“Pride, it boxes a man into a corner. I am grateful that you intervened, my friend. My daughter lives because of you.”
“A life for a life. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.”
His shrug confirmed that he had accepted his fate.
“We are both destined to die in a few hours,” he said, “an eye for an eye, and Yahweh is appeased. I have earned my death.”
I grabbed his arm as he stood up and pulled him closer. “You are wrong, Barabbas. Grace has found you, this night. Go, and sin no more.”
His eyes lit up at the sound of those words, and at that moment, he knew.
“You truly do have a messiah complex, Jesus, Son of David.”
© Nigel Byng 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Please visit the link to “The Forgiveness Project,” and discover the amazing fruits of forgiveness!
About Nigel Byng – A Great Storyteller and Poet
Nigel Byng is a freelance writer, living in the USA. He has contributed to several anthologies, including Happiness in Unexpected Places – a collection of stories compiled by authors and media professionals from across the globe; Life’s Poetic Rhythms – a poetic anthology from Prolific Pulse Press, and The best selling anthology, After Rain Skies, curated by Michelle Navajas.
His writing can be found on Signs of the Times Australia; Hotel by Masticadores, or on his personal blog http://www.hytsdaily.com where he displays his love of fiction and poetry, and collaborative ventures with other writers from across the world.
You can follow Nigel on his Instagram: hyts_daily
Read his most recent projects on his blog: www.hytsdaily.com
Thank you so much for this act of kindness, Joni and Scott. Your support means the world to me.🙏
It was our pleasure, Nigel. We both enjoy your wonderful stories together and congratulations on this recognition. ❤️
Thank you so much, my dear..😊
❤️🙏❤️
Hello Joni, thank you for sharing. Hope all is well. Have a great day.
Thank you dear Tangie. I am actually doing well and feeling grateful. I hope that you are also feeling better my friend. Thank you for looking at Nigel’s story, he is quite a storyteller. I hope he does a book of stories someday. Blessings my friend. ❤️
Nigel is an amazing storyteller and poet. He is a prolific writer known to bring you into his narrative in a way that you can see, feel, and smell the experience. My kind of writer. I thought this was a very intriguing perspective on what it would have been like if Jesus met the sinner who was released by the people (his people) and who called for his death. The woman he refers to in his story, who I have always believed to be Mary, but we don’t know for sure according to scripture, he refers to the sister of Barabbas. An interesting twist in this fictitious, and engrossing story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. The audio allows you to enjoy the story while you listen, and for the sight impaired to enjoy as well.
Barabbas was a fortunate man. Grace comes to us for reasons unknown and undeserved. In many ways, we are Barabbas.
Thanks again, Joni. I’m sorry I’m not in the UK to enjoy the exhibition. But I was thrilled to be asked to participate
You are right my friend. I need Grace everyday. You are so welcome Nigel. I am hoping you get some great photos you can post from the exhibition. Big hugs my friend, sending our love always ❤️
I promise I will soon enough
Glad to hear it. ❤️🙏❤️
Congrats to Nigel on this powerful piece, and thanks for sharing it here, Joni. <3 Reading your comment was helpful since I have little knowledge of the Bible and didn't know who Barabbas was, or his story. The background adds much meaning to the act of forgiveness. "You think the world could be a place of kindness and goodwill to all men." Yes, Jesus would think that, wouldn't he?" It's too bad that Barabbas is in charge these days.
You are kind to read and comment Diane. I had to smile at your comment. Yes indeed humans are not the kindest creatures. Often I prefer animals company as I do believe they are the only ones who love unconditionally today and unfortunately no truly kind act goes unnoticed today when we should all be kind to one another. I have yet to achieve that difficult goal but I do try. Big hugs and I hope the sun is shining tomorrow in Oregon on you and your garden. 🥰
“we should all be kind to one another. I have yet to achieve that difficult goal but I do try.” Me too, and that counts. Hugs, my friend. <3
Absolutely! 🦋
Thank you, my dear. Barabbas is only introduced into the Passion narrative (the sufferings and death of christ) at the last minute. The mob said Crucify him, and give us Barabbas instead.
I should have added some context to the story. Thankfully, Joni did this.
I am glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you for your visit and lovely comment.
My pleasure. 🙂
Wonderful writing!
Thank you so much Dawn for reading and your very gracious response. Nigel does a great job of story telling. Big hugs 🤗
Brilliantly written! 👏♥️♥️ I adore Nigel’s writing.
Thank you so much for sharing this story, dearest Joni! ♥️🥰🌹
Sending you lots of love and warm hugs
Thank you, Bianca ☺️
Thank you, Dawn. It was such a humbling request. I’m touched that you enjoyed the endeavor.
Thanks for sharing Nigel’s fantastic work, Joni.
Timothy, Happy Sunday to the family and thank you so much for reading Nigel here. He is a wonderful storyteller, and as an amazing storyteller, I am glad you are a fan of Nigel’s. It was wonderful that he was asked to be part of this project. I wish him blessings, and I am sure his piece will be for those who read it. I thought he picked on of the most important stories from the Bible and created a fictional piece that I found to be very thought-provoking. Sending hugs and blessings your way always, my friend.
Blessings to you and yours, Joni. 💖🙏
Thank you Tim. I hope that you get to see your grandkids and enjoy your whole family this Easter. Big hugs and blessings to the whole family. ❤️🙏
Thanks, Joni. We’re having a family get together, and it will be a blessing.
That sounds so nice, Tim. I wish we lived closer to my daughter and our grandchildren. We looked for land in the Seattle area, but once you leave, to go back and buy a small house and a half an acre, you would have to spend a million dollars. Not having an international airport where we live in VA makes it hard for them to visit but it sure is nice when they do. I hope you all have a wonderful visit and your Easter is filled with blessings my friend. 🙏❤️
💖🙏
Thank you for taking the time to drop by, Tim. Much appreciated
My pleasure, Nigel. 😊
I enjoyed this piece as a reading. The narrator’s voice was perfection, and the story itself brilliant. What a pleasure this was to enjoy this Sunday morning.
Thank you so much Violet. Nigel’s story was very interesting and so many of the stories in the Bible leave me with questions. I have always thought about how Jesus must have felt when the people that he ate with, traveled with and loved were among some who called for his death.
Thank you for reading Nigel’s story, he does a great job and I am so glad you enjoyed it. Have an amazing Sunday. 🥰
I was familiar with Nigel’s work beforehand, so my expectations were high of course, and he certainly did not disappoint!
He is indeed an amazing writer. I enjoy reading his work immensely. I look forward to his first book. He has a very stable audience that loves his stories, me included. Have a wonderful Sunday.
You too, Joni. So nice to meet you.
Thank you so much, Violet. 🙏
Brilliantly written! 👏👏♥️♥️
I adore Nigel’s writing. Thank you so much for sharing this story, dearest Joni! ♥️🥰🌹
Sending you lots of love and warm hugs
Hello dear Bianca, I hope this Sunday finds you happy and doing as well as can be expected with all the craziness coming our way.
I thought Nigel picked a very interesting time in the Bible to explore and he always writes a great story for his readers. I appreciate you reading his story here Bianca. It was nice for him to be invited to present a piece at this important event. Sending back lots of love, hugs and blessings my friend ❤️🦋❤️
It’s always a pleasure to read Nigel’s stories. He’s a brilliant storyteller.
I hope all is well, Joni 🙏♥️.
Many blessings to you, my dear friend! Sending lots of love and warm hugs your way 🥰🤗💗
Thank you sweetie. Your work is always a joy to read as well. You have a real gift. Happy Easter week. Love you. ❤️🦋❤️🙏
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words, dearest Joni! ♥️🙏♥️
Happy Easter week, my dear friend! I love you too! 🤗🥰🌹
You are so welcome, Bianca. You are so deserving. Lots of love, always <3<3<3
🤗♥️🥰
Have a blessed and happy Easter, dearest Joni! Sending lots of love and great big hugs your way💕.
Same to you, Bianca. <3<3<3
Thank you so much, dearest Joni! 🤗🥰🌹
An intriguing idea for a story, and I was caught up in it as I listened to the audio version. And that line nearly at the end, of Barrabas’s eyes lighting up with realization — that was really well done.
Thank you so much Dave for reading Nigel’s inspirational story. I also really thought the audio was excellent. Nigel’s storytelling never disappoints. I know he will be happy to hear you enjoyed it. Thank you Dave and enjoy your Sunday. 🤗
Thank you so much, Dave. It’s always nice to hear from you, sir.
Excellent write from Nigel Byng.
Thanks for sharing this, Joni!
It really is fab.
xoxoxo
Thank you for your kind response Resa. Nigel tells a great story. An interesting take on what a conversation could have been like had Jesus and the man guilty of murder shared a cell. Kind of like a modern-day take on an event that there is no evidence it happened but there are so many places in the bible that leave much to the imagination or interpretation of others. I was happy to see Nigel being celebrated at a great cause. Thank you so much for reading, Resa, and for your lovely comment. I just saw your latest post and could not believe the work you did. Truly amazing. Big hugs and blessings, Joni
Soooo awesome for you to share this Joni! I can’t wait to read it tomorrow and then come back here and compare notes. You’re a gem! 💎💓💓💓💓 Happy Easter! 🐣
Thank you Cindy. I am so glad that you visited and read Nigel’s post. I know he will be pleased to see you here. It is a very interesting story, an a creative take for sure for a worthy cause as well. I hope that you and your family have a blessed holiday.
Ypu’re most welcome, always and it truly is! We will and you do the same my dearest! 🩷❤️🩷🐣🐰
Thank you, Cindy. Big hugs and blessings.
Both of you are amazing… You and Joni…. I dont have words to express how happy I am with this work , Nigel. Congratulations Joni for everything you have done and both of you, a warm hearts.
Thank you dear Miriam. Your words have always meant a lot to me as I am an admirer of how you give back and your lovely poetry. Nigel is a talented friend and an excellent storyteller.
Warm heart, love and kisses to you my friend.
that was interesting, Joni! Nigel is so talented! I love his storytelling! Xx
Yes, he certainly is indeed. Carol anne, you had a least four comments I am just seeing so sorry about this, not sure what happened here.