‘Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.’ (Matthew 27:15-26)
The scene is clear, the Jewish leaders see victory is at hand, their plan to have this Jesus called Christ put away for good is coming to pass. Threatened by the power He yields, His popularity, and troubled by His apparent disregard for their law, they are on the verge of success.
And yet, for Jesus, this is exactly what He knew was going to happen, and He has set His face like flint to see out the dreadful death He would face, knowing in fact that is not the end, rather victory. For in it He will gladly pay the price for the sins of mankind, and in three days He will rise again to conqueror not only sin but also death.
At this poignant time in human history, an amazing moment occurs. Pilate desperate to let Jesus Christ go free, and knowing the true motivation of those who wished Him killed, offers what appears to be a dreadful choice to the crowd. Do you want to release the One many were calling the Messiah, or another (named Barabbas), who is a rebel and murderer. The latter probably behind his own attempt to overthrow a nation or city.
His name is Aramaic in origin, and reveals something of the weight of this moment, Jesus (meaning ‘The Lord saves’) Barabbas (meaning ‘son of the father’).
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
This dramatic scene is told in the all the gospels, and clearly God was and is making a point. For as Barabbas is set free, and Jesus (the Lord who saves) Christ (the Anointed) takes His place, our Father in heaven is making it clear that this is a Divine Exchange designed to set us all free, well at least to give us an opportunity for freedom from sin and to be forever with Him.
The opportunity, as freedom from Barabbas’ likely execution should give him ultimate freedom from the curses of sin, and eternal life, and it does symbolise the why of the Cross. The Bible does not record what happened to Barabbas, and there are no reliable historical records to show us. Fictional versions have been created, but the truth of what he did with this freedom is a mystery.
You would like to think he became remorseful, and turn his life around, even to Christ Jesus given what he would have seen and later learnt after the resurrection of our Lord, but we do not really know. So whether he received ultimate freedom from sin and eternal life by believing in Christ Jesus is not clear.
And perhaps that is part of the point of including this moment in the Bible.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Firstly, the message is clear, this Jesus Christ (who was innocent of wrong) goes to the cross to pay the price for a rebel and murderer. Ultimately this was not just true for Barabbas, but all of us. He who knew no sin became sin for us, and paid the price that we may be free from the weight of our wring doings.
Jesus Christ, the Anointed one of God who saves, who is God and Saviour, becomes for Barabbas, the Lord who saves this son of a father…the meaning of his name is materialised in front of his own eyes. This purchased prize came at the cost of the death of our Saviour Christ Jesus, one He willingly paid.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. (Isaiah 53:6-8)
For our Father in heaven, Almighty God, saw in Barabbas a son who needs saving, yes a son of His. And now the question remains, will Barabbas squander this opportunity, or will he receive the fullness of this gift by receiving the Lord Jesus as His saviour.
Ultimately Barabbas may have cheated death this time thanks to this divine exchange, however whether he enters into eternal life with God comes only when he acknowledges Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. Then he receives the great reward, that is Christ in him (by His Spirit), the hope of glory. Then this son of the father, becomes the son of THE Father.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:6)
This then is our hope. For while the people saw in Barabbas a murderer and rebel, God saw in him the ‘son of the father’ which the Lord would save. The price Jesus Christ paid, once and for all, made this possible, and brought for Barabbas the hope of freedom.
And while most of us may not kill a person (or people), and rebel openly against the authorities of the day, we will in some way show the same traits. Rebelling against the word of the Lord, disobeying His directions, believing in some way we are Lord of our own lives.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21,22)
With our thoughts, and our words, we may slay those around us. For the power of life and death is in the tongue. Or we may even end up treating others as if they are dead. While actions may speak louder than words, word can still very much hurt.
So maybe even if others may not see us like Barabbas, some may, and certainly our behaviours are not hidden from God. And yet, Jesus Christ still went to the Cross of Calvary for us, to purchase for us freedom from the curses of our disobedience, in the hope and knowledge that as we accept Him we not only receive the fullness of His gift, but also eternal life with God.
For even if we do rebel against God or the authorities, or take the life of another person, physically or metaphorically, we are assured that we do have the hope of forgiveness by God, and the He sent His Son to die on the cross for the stain of our sins to be washed away as we look to Jesus and follow Him.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
So in Barabbas there is the story of hope and redemption, but also the reminder of a choice that is to be made. And we are to choose NOW who we believe if we are to receive the ultimate reward of this Divine Exchange.
Kingdom Blog 