The Barabbas in All of Us

Bible Passage: Luke 23:13-25, Luke 23:39-43, Luke 19:10

Big Idea: The big idea is that grace is available to everyone, and it is never too late to turn to Jesus, even in the face of death and despair.

Opening: “The Bridge Keeper’s Story”

“In 1937, John Griffith operated a railroad drawbridge over the Mississippi River. He often brought his eight-year-old son Greg to work, delighting in showing him the massive machinery that raised and lowered the bridge for passing ships and trains.

One summer morning, while the bridge was raised for a ship, Greg went to explore the mechanical room below – something he'd done many times before. Suddenly, John heard the Memphis Express approaching. As he reached for the lever to lower the bridge, he saw Greg had fallen and was trapped in the gears below.

In that terrible moment, John faced an impossible choice: if he didn't lower the bridge, hundreds of passengers would die. If he did... With tears streaming down his face, John pulled the lever. The bridge lowered, and the train passed safely. The passengers, going about their morning routines, never knew the price of their safety – a father's ultimate sacrifice for strangers.”

Today, we are going to talk about how God gave up everything that mattered most to Him, His Son Jesus, to save many.

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Imagine being on trial for a crime you didn't commit. Now imagine that everyone - even the judge - knows you're innocent, yet you're still condemned.

This is exactly what happened to Jesus.

The Declaration of Innocence (verses 13-15) I want to be clear about something remarkable: Pilate, the Roman governor, made not one, but three statements about Jesus' innocence.

First, he personally found no guilt. (verse 14)

Second, he cited Herod's investigation. (verse 15)

Third, he publicly declared "nothing deserving death has been done by him." (verse 15) In modern terms, this would be like having two separate courts plus an appeals court all declaring your innocence.

The Deadly Exchange (verses 18-19) But here's where things take a devastating turn. The crowd demands Barabbas instead of Jesus.

Think about this choice: Barabbas was a known criminal - a murderer and an insurrectionist.

Who was Barabbas? The name Barabbas appears nowhere else in the New Testament, nor do any of the Gospels give any information about his previous or subsequent life. The name may be an Aramaic patronymic meaning “son of the father” (bar abba) or “son of the teacher” (bar rabban), indicating perhaps that his father was a Jewish leader.

They chose to free someone who took life over Someone who gave life. Someone who incited rebellion over the Prince of Peace.

The Power of the Mob (verses 20-25) Pilate tried three times to release Jesus. But the crowd's chants grew louder: "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

It's amazing how peer pressure can make people act against their better judgment. Pilate knew what was right but chose what was popular.

STORY: Imagine a high school principal who discovers that several star athletes on the basketball team cheated on their final exams. The team is favored to win the state championship next week - something the school has never achieved. The principal has clear evidence and knows the right thing is to suspend the players according to school policy. But he faces intense pressure from parents, the school board, and local community who all want these players eligible for the big game.

In that moment of testing, standing alone in his office, he has to choose between what he knows is right and what is overwhelmingly popular. The whole town wants him to find some way around the rules - maybe delay the investigation, give the players a warning, or find a technicality. The easy path of popularity beckons.

It's a small modern echo of Pilate's dilemma - a person of authority who knew what justice required but faced a crowd demanding something else. Like Pilate, this principal faces a very human temptation to choose the path of least resistance, to go along with the mob instead of standing alone for what's right.

When was the last time you had to choose between what you knew was right and what everyone around you wanted you to do? What did it cost you to make that choice?

Just as Pilate chose the popular path that led to Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus chose the unpopular path that led to our salvation. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He could have chosen what was easy and popular - to avoid the cross, to call down angels, to escape the suffering. Instead, He chose what was right - saying "not my will, but Yours be done."

Unlike Pilate who washed his hands of responsibility, Jesus took responsibility for our sins. Pilate chose the crowd over conscience; Jesus chose us over comfort. Pilate avoided temporary criticism; Jesus endured eternal agony. And because Jesus chose what was right over what was popular, we now have the strength through His Spirit to make those same difficult choices in our own lives.

When we face our own moments of choosing between what's right and what's popular, we're not just following a moral principle - we're following in the footsteps of our Savior who made the ultimate unpopular choice for our sake.

Application: These passages speaks to us on three main levels:

First: Personal Level

How often do we, like Pilate, know what's right but choose what's convenient?

STORY: We often want what’s comfortable over what’s best, such as when…..In the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, they often longed to return to Egypt, where they had food and comfort. Despite being freed from slavery, they struggled with the discomfort of trusting God for their needs. This mirrors our tendency to cling to familiar comforts instead of stepping into God's best for us—freedom and abundant life, even when it feels hard or uncertain. Sometimes, like the Israelites, we must choose faith over comfort and trust God's plan for our lives.

When do we let the 'crowd' influence our moral decisions?

I think we see this happening in the church across the nation - so many Christians have allowed politics to influence how they vote rather than God’s Word!

Second: Social Level

Our society still faces moments where justice competes with popularity

Consider the story of Daniel in the lion's den. Daniel chose prayer over popularity, defying the king's decree for the sake of his faith. While his decision could have led to a loss of status, it ultimately brought forth a miracle. Daniel's story reminds us that living a just life often comes with sacrifices, but God honors those who honor Him in the face of societal pressures.

We must ask: Are we part of the crowd calling for compromise, or do we stand for truth?

Third: Spiritual Level

This injustice was part of God's plan for our salvation

Jesus willingly endured this mockery of justice to save us

It Was God’s Will:

The greatest injustice in history - condemning an innocent man to death - became God's means of providing justice for us all. Jesus took our guilt so we could receive His innocence.

Luke 23:25 NIV

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Write this down: It was the will of the people to crucify Jesus but it was the will of God to crucify Jesus for the people!

But this story leaves us with a choice: Will we be like Pilate, knowing the truth but surrendering to pressure? Or will we stand firm for what's right, even when it costs us something?

As I read and study Luke 23 I’m reminded of a powerful truth: I Am Barabbas. You are Barabbas.

Question: How does recognizing that we are all like Barabbas impact the way we view our own sin and need for Jesus?

I've titled this sermon 'The Barabbas in All of Us' because this story reveals a profound truth about our own lives. Picture Barabbas in his cold prison cell that morning, chains on his wrists, waiting for his execution. He was guilty - a murderer, a rebel, condemned to die. But then footsteps echo down the corridor, keys rattle in the lock, and he hears the impossible: 'You're free to go. Someone else is dying in your place.'

This isn't just Barabbas's story - it's yours and mine. Like Barabbas, we stood condemned by our sin, spiritually imprisoned by our rebellion against God, destined for death. We weren't just struggling or making mistakes - we were spiritual insurgents, enemies of God, as hopeless as Barabbas in that prison cell.

But then came Jesus - the innocent One who chose to take our place. While Barabbas walked free from a Roman prison, Jesus walked toward a Roman cross. This wasn't just a prisoner exchange - it was a divine transaction. The sinless dying for the sinful. The righteous for the rebellious. The Prince of Peace taking the place of insurrectionists like us.

That's the heart of the gospel - not just that Jesus died, but that He died in our place.

Our freedom, like Barabbas's, came at an unfathomable cost - the blood of the innocent Son of God.

CLOSING:

LUKE 23:32; 39-43

Luke 23:39–43 NIV

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Look at that scene on Calvary one final time. Three crosses stand against the darkening sky. On either side of Jesus hang two criminals - both guilty, both dying, both with a choice to make. One hurls bitter accusations, clinging to his anger even in death. The other sees beyond his own suffering to recognize something extraordinary: innocence dying for the guilty, holiness paying sin's price, a King establishing His kingdom through sacrifice.

These two men paint a vivid picture of humanity's great divide. Every person who hears about Jesus faces the same choice these criminals faced. Will we, like the first criminal, turn away in bitter rejection? Or will we, like the second, recognize our guilt, acknowledge His innocence, and entrust our eternal destiny to the One who loved us enough to die in our place?

The choice those criminals made that day is the same choice before you right now. Jesus still hangs between two destinies - and He invites you to choose.

Which criminal's response will be yours?