Barabbas

Most if not all Christians should know of the account of Barabbas; the murder that the people asked to have set free over Jesus at Passover. There are a few interesting fact hidden in this brief account of the trial of Jesus. The trial is pretty much over by this time and it comes down to Pilate trying to have Jesus set free because he knows that Jesus is innocent and that Jesus was delivered up to be crucified do to the envy of the priests. Pilate was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and there was going to be no escape of Jesus getting out of there a free man. Even Pilate’s own wife was warned in a dream to have nothing to do with Jesus, which I am quite sure weighted heavy on Pilate’s mind. He may have been a heathen an even worship false gods, but they took dreams seriously back then. He also must have found the constant and brutal determination of the priests to stir up the people against Jesus shocking, especially for the punishment they wanted measured out against Jesus. This only sets up the scene of events that unfolded there at that time, but it covers not the meaning or what this would bring about later on in history.

To me Barabbas was a lying murderous weasel that undoubtedly deserved the punishment that Jesus received, but who Barabbas represented at that time was and is lost on many people. Yes, Barabbas was a murderer, but he was also the representation of Satan. He was that self-centered, egotistical, lying, murdering image of Satan. Barabbas wasn’t the only representation there in the story. The priests and the crowd also represented others, but we will get to that soon enough. Before getting into the meat of this story, I just wanted to point out quickly the cost of the decision that they had made by choosing Barabbas over Jesus and saying “Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” This blood oath that they said would come back many times greater than they could have imagined. Their greed for position and power blinded them to the cost that not only they would pay but their children later on would pay. The fall of Jerusalem was only a small part, it would be almost 1900 years later that the cost of shedding Jesus blood and their call of having Jesus’s blood be upon them and their children come to fruition. It would be during WWII that it would be paid. The death of millions of Jews was the cost of the shedding of Jesus’s innocent blood and claiming it upon themselves and their children. I have said before to be careful of what you say because not many ever think about the possible ramifications of our own words and what we may even ask for in prayer.

Now getting back to what was unfolding at the end of the trial and who everyone represented. Also, this is but only a few accounts that are recorded in ALL four Gospels. Some in more detail than others, but all having it mentioned. This event would repeat itself over and over throughout history and each time for the most part unfolds the same way once you know who the players are in this story. Jesus is the only one that is representing his self, while Barabbas represents Satan, the priests are the religious leaders of the Christian churches and the crowds are the members of those churches. Jesus has been continually rejected by the same church that says they worship his Father and they have chosen Satan over Jesus. It is the church leaders that are whipping the members up to reject Jesus’s true way of life and to take the path of least resistance by accepting Satan. Every time that the church speaks contrary to Jesus’s words and way of life they reject him and accept Barabbas. The crowd “members” don’t standup or speak out against their leaders just as they did nothing back then. They accepted the words of their religious leaders and allow Jesus to be crucified in their churches. There will be a day that all those that speak not up for Jesus and accept his FULL way of life and the words he spoke will answer for the blood that was shed. Think not that remaining silent and hidden among the crowd will save you in the end. The leaders of the churches and their members cry out like those of the past when the truth is spoken and they do not want to hear it and more so each time just as they did back when Pilate tried to tell the truth of Jesus innocence. No they just want to live their lives the way they want to and crucify the truth so they don’t have to hear it any longer. That was one of the main reasons they wanted Jesus crucified was to shut him up from speaking the truth. So many have rejected Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life and for that they are unable to go before his Father and in their end when they stand before his Father Jesus will reject them saying “I never knew you depart from me you that work iniquity” for they have rejected him before men and so he will reject them before his father.

Matthew 10:32-33 “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.[33] But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 7:23 “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Matthew 27:15-26 “Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.[16] And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.[17] Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?[18] For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.[19] When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.[20] But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.[21] The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.[22] Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. [23] And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.[24] When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.[25] Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.[26] Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.”

Mark 15:6-14 “Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.[7] And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.[8] And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.[9] But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?[10] For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.[11] But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.[12] And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?[13] And they cried out again, Crucify him.[14] Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

Luke 23:16-23 “I will therefore chastise him, and release him.[17] (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)[18] And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:[19] (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)[20] Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.[21] But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.[22] And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.[23] And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.”

John 18:39-40 “But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?[40] Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.”