SaveOne Barabbas

It is here! Happy Resurrection Day!!! Wow yesterday’s Easter egg hunt!! What a day right? So many new people came and enjoyed the day. What a turn out. Last weeks service and the Holy Spirit showing up as He did!! We truly could not have asked for more. I believe there needs to be room for that in service. If God wants to speak, let Him speak. And let me add this, it doesn’t have to be through one of us on stage. God can speak and does speak to you all. Allow Him to. But on with reason we are here. To celebrate the resurrection of our king.

As you know the title of this series is all about saving one. It comes from the parables that Jesus told about the man leaving the 99 sheep to find the one and the woman leaving the money she had to go find the one she lost.

When I read the Easter story there are so many characters that play a part. Some major and some not so much. I mean there is Judas the betrayer, Peter the denier, the high priest instigators, Pilot the judge, Mary his mother, and Mary whom He set free. The list goes on and on right. There is one person though mentioned that seems to almost do nothing but interrupt the narrative of Jesus story.

I mean all the events and people seem to go hand in hand until this on person is mentioned and almost as though he is just an after thought to the story. But He is in there none the less.

Jesus has been examined by Pontius Pilate and truthfully has been found not guilty of anything. Especially anything worth crucifixion. This is where we pick up the story.

Luke 23:13–19 NKJV

Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him” (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast). And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”— who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.

Let me first make mention that this story and name is mentioned in all 4 gospel accounts. Something that doesn’t happen with everything. So that makes it all the more important. I will pull some things mentioned in the other accounts as we go through this.

Let me be clear that I am still not quite sure why this man is mentioned or what the cause of him being in the story is. The story was going along great without the interruption of Barabbas. But here we are none the less.

We don’t really know much about Barabbas except that he was a murderer. He was a leader of an insurrection. A rebel. This story though is about Jesus going to the cross.

So Pontius Pilate is about to make a decision. He thinks I holds the fate of these two men in his hands. He has Jesus on one side and Barabbas on the other.

Now the question is why Barabbas. We are taught as though he was the only other prisoner but according to

Mark 15:7 NKJV

And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.

There were some others. So why Barabbas? Here is Pilate on this audacious stage standing between Jesus the Son of God and Barabbas the thug and thief. That could almost be a song. Thug and Thief. Well if we go to scripture,

Matthew 27:15–17 NKJV

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 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?”

Matthew 27:5–17 NKJV

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 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?”

Matthew 27:20 NKJV

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

Matthew 27:5-17

Matthew 27:

So Pilate brings this guy out for no other reason that we know of than he was notorious. Pilate had suffered some dreams so he wanted nothing to do with Jesus. So in his mind he thinks, if i get the worst one, they will surely not select him to be released, they will pick Jesus. So he ask “Who do you want?”

Really this is blasphemy here. This has truly gone way to far. I mean really its like asking what is favorite food between chocolate and grass. Do you want 1 million dollars or a stick in the eye. I mean it is ludicrous this question.

Barabbas should be on death row. He is a rightful prisoner. He is a rebel against Rome. He deserves the punishment that He is receiving without question. I mean he is a bad man. He murders people. He is a rebel. He is a thug and a thief. He deserves his chains. And he deserves to be crucified. This is why Pontius Pilate is putting him up on the blocks. This is why he was brought out. This is why Pilate wants this comparison. Surely you all can tell the difference. Surely they will make the right decision here.

Jesus, has done nothing but heal, restore, deliver, set free, bring back to life, give hope, give sight, opened deaf ears, and heal the lepers. So who do you want.

Barabbas. Give us Barabbas.

They want Barabbas. Are you out of your mind? YOu have this man who has done nothing wrong. he has done noting to harm you only help you. He has done nothing but better your life and you are asking for Barabbas? Reason 1

Jesus was not their own, Barabbas was.

Jesus told them long before this that they were of their father the devil. They did not belong to God. Jesus told his disciples that you are not of this world and they will hate you just as they hated me. Their hatred for Jesus so superceded their rational thought, they elected to set a murderer free. We like to justify it because he wasn’t killing Jews. We don’t know that. In fact probably the opposite was true and he was killing Jews who didn’t follow him. I bet you that he might have even gone that day to kill the Jew that snitched right. He was a bad guy.

But they wanted Barabbas. So the guards come and stick the key in. They unlocked his chains. He walks down the platform and is joyfully greeted by all of his rebellious thug friends who cheer and rant that he is free.

Just like in the movie I can see his face. He is smiling. He is probably thinking these people love me. There is no remorse. There seems to be no conscience within him. He is just happy to be alive and free.

The story doesn’t tell us that Barabbas turn to Jesus and declare his everlasting loyalty. There is no record of him saying I owe you my life now that you freed me. He just goes on as though nothing happened. You see no sense of a conscience in Him.

God knew Barabbas.

He knew this would be Barabbas’ response. He knew that as they stood there and Barabbas was chosen to be set free and His son would be chosen to die on that cross that Barabbas would have no sense of remorse. He would have no sense of regret. He would have no appreciation for what just happened. God knew that.

Jesus knew it too. And he stood there silent. Knowing full well who Barabbas was and all the atrocities he had committed and Jesus didn’t speak up to plead his case. He knew because remember he had prayed…He knew the will of the Father. Jesus knew that in order for this thing to work...

He would have to be treated as Barabbas in order for Barabbas to be treated like Him.

Barabbas walking down the steps a free man. Walking around high on the hog. He knew he was going to die. Now all of a sudden, he is free. Here he is having nothing to do with his release not truly understanding why he was released.

Barabbas thought the people set him free, but actually it was LOVE.

Not love of the people. It wasn’t their love. They didn’t really love Barabbas. They just hated Jesus. Truly the people didn’t hate Jesus. The leaders hated Jesus. So let that be a lesson. Be careful who you follow and don’t be led astray by money. But the leaders hated Jesus. It was completely their hatred that put Him there. So it wasn’t their love for Barabbas that set him free. It couldn’t have been the love of Pilate either because this guy had killed some Romans. Pilate wanted him dead just as much as anyone else. Which is why he was chosen because of how evil he was, Pilate just knew there was no way they would pick him to be released.

So whose love was it?

The Father’s

It was the Father’s love that caused Jesus to be captured and caused Barabbas to be set free. Now do we know all the rest of the story. Does Barabbas follow Jesus after that? We don’t know. I mean the truth is Barabbas probably didn’t even know who Jesus was and after this we don’t know that he ever found out because Jesus was crucified.

But here is where the rubber meets the road. When you think about Barabbas being set free, what happens to your temperature inside? Do you get a little upset about it. Do you get a little mad? I mean Jesus didn’t deserve that punishment. Jesus didn’t deserve to be on the cross. Barabbas did. Here is prophesy about Jesus though.

Isaiah 53:2–10 NKJV

For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 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. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

Isaiah 53:2-

Like God set this whole thing up right here. It pleased the Lord. God loved Barabbas. I mean if Barabbas were to be saved, what would you have to say about it. That’s not right. That ain’t good. Why him? That is the same reaction we get today when we think about that one person we wreally don’t like and can’t stand. we think there is no way that God could or would save them. Jonah felt the same way about Nineveh. God if I go there you will save them. they will repent and that isn’t right so I am not going. Could you imagine telling God that. In

Jonah 4:1–3 NIV

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Jonah 4:1

Because a town repented and God showed mercy, Jonah is mad. We feel this way, because we don't understand this truth.

I am Barabbas. You are Barabbas

Have you ever thought about that. My sin is so ugly. So repugnant. Has such a putrid smell to it. Yours is too. Don’t think your stuff don’t stink. But we were all prepared to die. In bondage. In chains. On death row. You may think you weren’t that bad but you were. Maybe you are right now. The bible says we have on filthy rags. We are stained crimson red. There is no good in us. The same way you feel about Barabbas in this story is the same way you should feel about the old you. God loved Barabbas.

But he is a bad man God. I know but I love him. But he doesn’t love you. He may never acknowledge your love or even your existence. It doesn’t matter I love him. Let me help you.

God loves YOU!

The bible says that

Romans 5:8 NKJV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ is now sitting around waiting for you to acknowledge him before he acts. He isn’t waiting on you to say I love you before He screams I love you. He isn’t depending upon you to get your life together before He can accept you. While you were still a sinner HE DIED FOR YOU!!!! You are Barabbas. You mean you died for me in all of my mess ups? In all of my hang ups? In all of my short falls? In all of my dysfunction? You love me in all of that? YES!!!

He took your place. You ever wondered why Christ was beaten beyond recognition? Have you ever even thought about that? We have stripes for healing ok check. We have blood spilled. Salvation. We have water for cleansing. Done. But why the beating of the face, why the pulling out of his beard. Oh they were just evil people. They were just being mean. They were cruel. So you are telling me that you believe God allowed His son to go through extra torture for no redeeming purpose. Cross necessary, crown of thorns necessary, stripes necessary but the beating and beard pulling not. Oh well Jesus can handle it. Come on man. No he was unrecognizable so that if asked for description, he would look like you, he would look like you, he would look like me and we would look like him.

Christ took our punishment we were given his position.

It is two fold. When God looks at you, He doesn’t see you. He sees Him. When God looked at His son on the cross, he saw all of our sin that is why He couldn't look. All that ugly. All that dirt. All that pain. All that rejection. All that sin on the face of Jesus. Where it shouldn’t have been.

But it doesn’t end there. See it is the height of hypocrisy that believers believe that they needed grace at the beginning but don’t need it now. we have this notion that now that I am saved, I can set myself free. I don’t mean that we don't’ have power over things or authority because we do. What I am saying is that we get this work mentality even in our Christendom that if I work hard enough, I can quit doing that thing I don’t want to do. But that isn’t it. In fact here is what Paul had to say.

Romans 7:24–25 NKJV

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 7:24

Paul was saved. He is going to save him from doing the things that doesn’t want to do? Who will delver him from this body of death. JESUS!!! Not his boot straps. We don’t trust God enough to complete the work he started. Are you bound today?Are you held by a sin that you feel is controlling you? So what are you going to do? Shake yourself loose? I can beat this thing. NO YOU CAN’T!! No you won’t! You are no match for the kingdom of hell on your own. You can’t save or sanctify yourself. Your discipline, your devotion, your struggle, your desire will not save you. It will not save your marriage. It will not save your kids. It will not save you. There is only one.

He is the same one that stood on that platform silently as all the accusations came. By his silence he said yes let them have Barabbas and take me instead. He stood there on the steps as you were being accused and He said, I’ll take that. How many times have we stood on the platform with Jesus and Pilate and declare over ourselves, I am guilty. give me the punishment. I deserve. I deserve the guilt. I deserve the shame. I deserve it. I mean i keep messing up. I keep getting it wrong. I keep screwing up and Jesus looks as they are about to take me away and says no wait son. I will go. Let me have all of that. All the shame, all the guilt, all the condemnation. I will take it.

No God I did this to myself. If my marriage fails, I deserve it. If my kids walk away i deserve. I am so ashamed. He says let me have that shame. But what if I do it again. He says I’ll never leave you nor forsake you.

But I don’t want to hurt you any more Jesus. I love you. He says i know you do Son. So let me help you daughter. Let me take this from you. You have to come to the realization that no one person is more blessed or more righteous than the other. There is only 1. It is God. God alone. That is the story of this day. That Jesus took all your shame, all your sin, all your grief, all your condemnation upon himself. Then He alone arose but left all that other stuff buried still in the tomb. Is it really that hard to imagine that we serve a God whose love is

SO HIGH! SO DEEP! SO WIDE! SO INCLUSIVE! That it can include the worst of the worst, the best of the best and even you.

Ephesians 3:18 NKJV

may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—

Ephesians 3:18–19 NKJV

may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Can you comprehend that kind of love?Does that make sense to you? The only way you understand that is to understand how sinful you really are. To understand how chained up you are. TO understand the depth of your dirt. And then to understand it is OK!! Because God has the power to wipe it all away.