Barabbas and I

Big Idea

Tension: Why does Matthew include the Barabbas story?

Resolution: Because it is one of the clearest ways to portray Christ’s substitutionary death.

Exegetical Idea: Matthew includes the Barabbas story because it is one of the clearest ways to portray Christ’s substitutionary death.

Theological Idea: The Barabbas story provides a theological picture of Christ’s substitutionary death.

Homiletical Idea: As Christ stood in Barabbas’ place, so he has stood in mine.

Outline

Introduction: Why this story?

At risk of the glaringly obvious-Jesus is headed to his death. There is, at this point, hours left before Christ dies. This is him, essentially, on his deathbed.

Jesus is also innocent. This is a sham trial, everyone knows this. Pilate knows this, Pilate’s wife knows this, the chief priests know this.

Barabbas is a “notorious criminal.” Again, everyone knows this.

Jesus, the righteous, is crucified instead of Barrabas.

This is the “Passover feast.” This is the day when the Passover lambs would be sacrificed to atone for the sins of the people. They would die in the place of sinners.

Jesus and Barabbas are being swapped, substituted to teach about the purpose of Jesus’ death, namely that he dies in the place of sinners.

Now, and here is where it gets truly interesting: who is Barabbas? His name is absolutely no help. And what did he do anyways?

Matthew is deliberately vague about the identity of Barabbas for this reason: he wants us to see: “I am Barabbas.”

It is one thing to know that Christ died for sinners. It is another to know that Christ died for me. That Christ died for sinners can be said with rigidity, with coldness, with matter of factness. But to say that Christ died for me can only be said with tenderness and affection and joy.

Application:

Are you Barabbas?

Christ died for sinners. Did Christ die for you?

If Christ died for you, do you live for him?

Christians, let us never tire of coming to the cross.