GIVE US BARABBAS!
Notes
Transcript
LAST WEEK
LAST WEEK
We saw Judas repent of betraying innocent blood
We saw Jesus confirm who He was to Pontius Pilate
We saw him remain silent in regards to the accusations of the Jews
THIS WEEK
THIS WEEK
We are going to see the heart of the people revealed.
By this point they had decided without a doubt what they wanted to have done to Jesus
Their only goal was to convince the authorities that this true and right.
A LITTLE HISTORY
A LITTLE HISTORY
What do we know about the political climate of the day?
The Roman Empire was flourishing
The Leaders of the Roman Empire were the best of the best
Their entire lives were saturated with being loyal to Rome
For the Governor, the peace of his jurisdiction would speak to his success
If the land he was in charge to manage was under control
It would speak to his nationalism
It would speak to his faithfulness to Rome
But not only that
It would create an easier path to promotion.
For Pontius Pilate this reality had come at a cost
His Chief Administrator in Rome, Sejanus, had fallen from favor for treason and was executed in 31AD
So for Pilate, there was more on the line than his career path
He knew that these issues needed to be handled carefully
So with that said, lets get into the text
TURN TO
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.
Matthew 27:15-
PRAY THAT GOD WOULD OPEN UP OUR EYES TO THE REALITY OF HIS SUFFERING
PRAY THAT GOD WOULD GIVE US A KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE IN OUR SUFFERING
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
MATTHEW 15:
DURING THIS FEAST, IT WAS ACCUSTOMED TO RELEASE ONE PRISONER
IT WOULD BE A PRISONER THAT THE CROWD HAD CHOSEN
IN THIS CASE IT WAS EITHER BARABBAS OR JESUS
WHO WAS BARABBAS?
Barabbas was a notorious prisoner
But more than that it seems like he was a revolutionary
His name meant Son of the Father
Which was designated to those who came from a very strong Jewish Family
A family that would be involved in “Ministry”
It was almost as if Barabbas was a Notorious Prodigal
Son of a great father of the faith
Someone who had rebelled against the norm of Judaism
AND WHEN IT CAME TO RELEASING JESUS WHO IS CALLED THE CHRIST OR JESUS WHO IS CALLED BARABBAS
Pilate knew what they were going to decide
He knew Envy would run its course
Although Pilate knew what the right thing to do was
For the sake of peace
For the sake of his career path
For the sake of his reputation
He kept delaying doing the right thing
CHURCH, BEFORE WE WAG OUR RIGHTEOUS FINGERS AT PILATE, WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES
How many times have we given into peer pressure?
How many times have we known what we need to do and bail?
How many times do we know what the right thing to do is, and we look for an easier option?
What else does the bible say about this?
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
WE BECOME JUST LIKE PILATE WHEN WE KNOW WHATS GOOD AND DON’T DO IT.
WE ALLOW PEER PRESSURE TO RUN ITS COURSE WHEN WE NEGLECT THE WORD OF GOD AND THE LEADING OF HIS SPIRIT.
THE TRUTH IS
WE NEED STRENGTH TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT
WE NEED COURAGE TO DO THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT EASY
WE NEED THE PRESENCE OF GOD TO LEAD US THROUGH FEARFUL TIMES
WHAT WE DON’T NEED TO DO IS BAIL.
THE CROWD WASN’T THE ONLY SOURCE OF INPUT
CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENED . . .
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
MATTHEW 27:19-
WHILE PONTIUS WAS WRESTLING WITH THIS SITUATION
CHECK OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES:
Pontius’ Wife comes to him and begs him to have nothing to do with this Just Man.
She says:
“For I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him”
Men, put yourself in Pilates shoes
What would you do if your own wife came up to you and warned you about this Man?
Not only has your conscious been bugging you.
But now your wife has given you her two cents.
EVEN AFTER ALL OF THIS EVIDENCE, PONTIUS WAS STILL UNDECIDED
IT WAS THEN THAT THE CHIEF PRIESTS, AND ELDERS PERSUADED THE MULTITUDES THAT THEY ALSO ASK FOR BARABBAS AND THAT JESUS SHOULD BE DESTROYED
PILATE ASKED:
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
THE CROWD SAID:
“BARABBAS”
PILATE RESPONDS:
“What would you like for me to do with Jesus called the Christ?”
THEY SAID:
“Let Him be crucified”
PILATE ASKED:
“Why, what evil has He done?”
Pilate has a very heavy point
Jesus had done nothing wrong
Jesus was 100% innocent
He was 100% Holy
The accusations that filled the mouth of the Crowds were that Jesus was a False Messiah
The things that Jesus did, the things that He said, the things that He stood for
Were 100% Biblical
Yet 100% Blasphemous in the eyes of those who were religious
CHECK OUT HOW JESUS PUT IT IN ANOTHER GOSPEL
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BARABBAS AND JESUS?
JESUS WAS THE SON OF THE FATHER
BARABBAS WAS NAMED SON OF THE FATHER
JESUS WAS 100% SINLESS
BARABBAS WAS A SINNER IN NEED OF JESUS
JESUS FULFILLED THE SCRIPTURES
BARABBAS REBELLED AGAINST THEM
EVEN THOUGH THE EVIDENCE IS THERE
CHECK OUT HOW PILATE RESPONDED
24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
-25
THERE WAS NO PREVAILING AGAINST THE REQUEST OF THE PEOPLE
THERE IS NO WAY THAT PILATE COULD CHANGE THEIR MIND
THE ONLY WAY TO PRESERVE HIS LEADERSHIP POSITION
THE ONLY WAY TO MAINTAIN HIS REPUTATION
Was to do as they wished
But as a testimony against them
He took a bowl of water
Washed his hands in their presence
And proclaimed his innocence in front of them
Normally, you would say “hey wait a second”
But that wasn’t the case with the crowd
They accepted full responsibility for what was happening before their very eyes
They even declared judgement over themselves and their children
26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
Matthew 27: