I Am Barabbas!

Introduction

Names that don’t seem to fit.

Like calling something a Jumbo Shrimp.

Or discussing a Minor Crisis.

Then there are things labeled a Genuine Imitation.

Or Big Guys who are nicknamed slim.

What about deafening silence?

When I think about today…Good Friday seems to fit that category.

Bro. Mark did a great job yesterday helping us to set our minds upon the physical brutality of what Jesus went through for us.

We in this room know that those two words, “for us” is what makes Good Friday Good! As we think about today, I want to revisit and remind us of the Good done for us and how we should respond to this greatest express of love.

Matthew 27:11–26 ESV

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” 24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

There was one who experienced the first Good Friday…his name was Barabbas.

1) Barabbas was “a notorious prisoner”.

He had a reputation.

John’s Gospel tells us he was robber and a revolutionary.

Mark and Luke tells us he was a rebel and an insurrectionist as well as a murderer.

Matthew here tells us he as a notorious prisoner.

2) Barabbas was considered deplorable.

Pilate considered him to be so terrible and so well known as a danger to the public that the people would surely choose to release Jesus instead of Barabbas.

He was the perfect redirect to snap an emotionally driven, angry mob back to reality and let an innocent man go free.

3) Barabbas was unequivocally guilty.

Not one person is recorded as arguing his innocence.

Not one person dares to try and spin his crimes…they don’t care how bad Barabbas is…they want Jesus dead!

This is such a striking contrast!

Jesus, found to be innocent by Pilate.

Barabbas, guilty as sin.

Yet the mob says give us Barabbas…destroy Jesus.

Give us the notorious prisoner. The robber. The murderer…the guilty!

We want the guilty to be in our midst while the innocent is destroyed.

4) Barabbas is freed.

Pilate, gained nothing, and saw the crowd was starting to riot.

He washed his hands of the whole mess and released for them Barabbas.

I wish we could talk to Barabbas and hear his side of this story.

Was he complicit with the crowd? Was he shocked or surprised? Did his heart ever soften? As a freed man, within the forty days that followed, did he ever get to interact with the resurrected Jesus?

We don’t know…but what we do know is that Barabbas was the first and most earthly direct recipient of God’s powerful work through Jesus that day.

5) I am Barabbas!

I am notorious, evil, deplorable, and guilty.

You may say, “Come on Justin…that guy stole, rebelled, murdered…are you really that bad?

Let’s look at God’s standard:

You shall have no Gods before me. - Guilty

You shall not make for yourself any graven image. - Guilty

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. - Guilty (Blasphemer)

You shall remember the sabbath and keep it holy. - Guilty

Honor your Father and Mother - Guilty

Shall not murder. (Jesus says if you angry in your heart towards another, you’ve already committed murder in your heart). - Guilty

You Shall not commit adultery (Jesus says if you lust after another, you’ve committed adultery in your heart). - Guilty

You shall not steal - Guilty

You shall not bear false witness. - Guilty

You shall not covet. - Guilty

I’m not as bad as Barabbas? (Idolatrous, neglectful, rebellious, murdering, adulterous, lying, coveting, thieving, blasphemer).

I am Barabbas…and so are you.

So what makes Good Friday so good?

Isaiah 53:3–12 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 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. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

I am Barabbas because I am guilty…and yet I am freed!

Matthew 27:24–25 ESV

24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

The crowd took responsibility for the death and gruesome crucifixion of Jesus. In doing so they said, “His blood be on us and on our children!” In that moment, they had no idea how much they would need those words with a different heart.

My friend, this morning, if you do not recognize Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are not Barabbas…you are guilty like he is, but you are not freed. You still live in the guilt of your sin, but the message of Good Friday is that He has willingly and volitionally already taken your sin upon Himself because He loves you. Will you let His blood be upon you that you may be freed?