We have heard his name many times. We see him in films related to the life of Jesus. When the day of the crucifixion arrives, here he is together with Jesus. His name is Barabbas. Barabbas, was a criminal, responsible for insurgence, murder and robbery. He was a murderer. That’s how Peter calls him in Acts 3:14. The penalty for his actions was death. The name Barabbas is composed by “Bar” that means son and “abass” that means father. He was “son of a father” i.e. a son of somebody. Here he is therefore together with Jesus before the Pilate. From the one side the innocent, Jesus Christ the Son of God. No evil was found in Him. He walked doing good and healing the people. And yet He is in the death queue. From the other side a murderer, a criminal that was condemned to death. One of the two will go to the cross and Barabbas has all the reasons to be there. The cross is his normal end.
In Mark 15:6-7 we find he committed murder. In Matthew 27:16 he's called a notorious prisoner. And in John 18:39-40 he's called a robber. So all in all, Barabbas is about as bad as they come. And on that day he was designated to hang on a cross. Some of the following I got from the book The Darkness and the Dawn, by Charles Swindoll. On the day of the crucifixion you can just picture this man in a cell waiting to be crucified for his sins. There is no hope of escape, the Roman soldiers are guarding him closely. He hears a crowd of people in the distance yelling his name "Barabbas, Barabbas." What he doesn't hear is Pilate asking the crowd "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" But he does hear the roar of the crowd say "Barabbas." (Matthew 27:21 and Luke 23:18).
Now Pilate asks the crowd "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?" Barabbas cannot hear the one voice of Pilate, but he does hear the crowd's answer "Let Him be crucified" (Matthew 27:21-22). All he can hear is the crowd yelling "Barabbas - let him be crucified." I don't know how brave a man Barabbas was, but I'm sure the thought of the slow painful death by crucifixion, and all this taking place before the end of the day, would bring uncontrollable fear to anyone.
So here he is sitting and waiting. And then he hears the heavy footsteps of the soldiers on the stone pavement coming to get him. The cell door opens, one of the soldiers growl: "Get out of here Barabbas." He is now close to faint. But then he hears "You're free to go."
If there's any man in history, who knows he had a substitute on that center cross, a man who died in his place for his sins – it's Barabbas. Barabbas missed his cross because another Man literally took his place. But let's not forget, Jesus was our substitute too. He bore our sins and died the death that we deserve, just as he died the death Barabbas deserved. He hung on the cross intended for Barabbas, just as he hung on the cross in our place.
Like Barabbas we were dead in our trespasses and sins until Jesus' crucified body released the blood of substitution. Like Barabbas we were condemned to die until Jesus took our place. And like Barabbas, we have been set free, and it's a freedom for eternity.
Jesus paid the penalty for more than Barabbas. He died as a sacrifice, once and for all, for the sins of all humanity. Because He bore the cross we deserve, we're able to have an eternal peace and home in Heaven we don't deserve.
So, who is this man Barabbas? He's none other - than you and me!
Now Pilate asks the crowd "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?" Barabbas cannot hear the one voice of Pilate, but he does hear the crowd's answer "Let Him be crucified" (Matthew 27:21-22). All he can hear is the crowd yelling "Barabbas - let him be crucified." I don't know how brave a man Barabbas was, but I'm sure the thought of the slow painful death by crucifixion, and all this taking place before the end of the day, would bring uncontrollable fear to anyone.
So here he is sitting and waiting. And then he hears the heavy footsteps of the soldiers on the stone pavement coming to get him. The cell door opens, one of the soldiers growl: "Get out of here Barabbas." He is now close to faint. But then he hears "You're free to go."
If there's any man in history, who knows he had a substitute on that center cross, a man who died in his place for his sins – it's Barabbas. Barabbas missed his cross because another Man literally took his place. But let's not forget, Jesus was our substitute too. He bore our sins and died the death that we deserve, just as he died the death Barabbas deserved. He hung on the cross intended for Barabbas, just as he hung on the cross in our place.
Like Barabbas we were dead in our trespasses and sins until Jesus' crucified body released the blood of substitution. Like Barabbas we were condemned to die until Jesus took our place. And like Barabbas, we have been set free, and it's a freedom for eternity.
Jesus paid the penalty for more than Barabbas. He died as a sacrifice, once and for all, for the sins of all humanity. Because He bore the cross we deserve, we're able to have an eternal peace and home in Heaven we don't deserve.
So, who is this man Barabbas? He's none other - than you and me!
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