Giving the World Jesus When They Cry For Barabbas

Introduction

Have you ever wanted something that you did not need? Nonetheless what you needed was so good for you, but also exposed the direct changes you need to make. The bacon egg and cheese sandwich taste great, but we really need the smoothie. The ribs and mashed potatoes taste great, but the doctor said you need more salad. You need to get some sleep, but Power is just so good and I have to catch up before the 5th of January so I can watch the season finale with everyone else.

These things seem simple but its a reflection of a greater problem in our lives today. Often times the things we need, we crucify because it is a constant reminder of what and who we should be. We live in a world today that wants freedom for Barabbas and wants to kill Jesus. Legislation and civil protections are created daily to protect the fleshly desires of human beings. People die daily across this world for religious beliefs, nonetheless speaking about Jesus in public settings is frowned upon, legislators manipulate Christianity to fit the narrative of their selfish ways, Religion was used to support things like Slavery, Jim Crow interment camps, and wars. Nonetheless we have attempted to get rid of Jesus in effort to stick to this tradition of releasing the Barabbas’ of the world. We have world leaders who scream witch hunt when tides turn, and ask for prayers when their schemes are unraveled and treachery is revealed. It’s time to stop using Jesus when it’s convenient and destroying Him when he does not fit our narrative of justification.

Setting

Jesus has been betrayed by Judas, taken court to court. It’s in Pilate’s hands, he doesn’t want a revolt but releases the man who was a part of an earlier revolt against the government. When the powers that be see a good work exposing the dirt and grime in our systems, they will paint the picture of evil on the innocent and terror on the peaceful.

Who is Barabbas?

First understand that a revolutionary can be someone who changes the world for good or bad.

One may depict Martin Luther King Jr. as a revolutionary, as some may also depict Adolf Hitler as a revolutionary. One used power and influence to bring people together and one used their power to exercise oppression and kill people.

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

Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lam, blind, mute, maimed and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.

Barabbas a leader during an insurrection who actually murdered someone in the midst of fighting for an unjust cause.

Society is okay with Jesus if the leaders do not feel like their positions are threatened. Society would rather have an insurrectionist that doesn’t harm the bottom line, than a Jesus that would make the world a better place.

This is what happens when money and power are your motivator.

We live in a society that sheds a tear during a school shooting but refuses to reform gun laws.

We live in a society that consistently spreads propaganda that violence is bad but continues to place violent movies in the theatres.

We live in a society that was built on the constitutional words that all men are created equal, yet will not hold law enforcement accountable for killing unarmed black men and women.

We live in a society that loves the idea of Jesus, but releases the Barabbas’ of the world.

Even so much so that “then they all cried again, saying, Not this Man, but Barabbas! Now Barabbas was a robber.

We Have to Give the World Jesus

The world is already okay with sacrificing Jesus if it means Barabbas allows people to stay the same. Church is great until we are challenged to change. We live in a world that wants Jesus to remove the accusers, but when He says, Go and Sin no More! We say we he gotta be all up in my business.

When we are faced with the unjust assaults of the world remember Jesus. Understand the enemy is willing to put a price on the head of Christianity if it means they do not have to change their evil ways.

The world’s expectations and Jesus do not match up. You can’t expect the world to accept you when you prioritize Jesus over the world.

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.

They put a price on forgiveness, they put a price on the head of the man that had healed the blind and helped the paralyzed walk. This is what envy does, envy stares in the face of peace and gets upset because it holds them accountable for their evil.

It was not that Jesus was doing great things, it was the fact that he did it in a peaceful way. The world says eye for an eye but Jesus stayed silent in the face of accusers.

They mocked his power and said save yourself, but Jesus remained on the cross until the work of God was finished.

The Power of Envy

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.

I remember my mother would say, “You can’t misquote silence”. When folks are envious there is nothing I can do to make them feel better about their envy.

As Christians we are not to compromise with envy, sometimes the only way to maintain your innocence is to be quiet.

The world will continue to become worse, but trust and believe that God is still doing His job, fulfilling his promises.

I can be blessed in the presence of my enemies, I can overcome in the face of the envious, because the God I serve has all power.

“Then the governor said, Why, what evil has He done” “But they cried out all the more, saying, Let Him be crucified”

Envy shows the true colors, I can’t give you an answer why I want you destroyed I just do not like you and I want you destroyed.

Envy will cause the most powerful leader to feel threatened enough to persecute an innocent man.

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

Envy had them believing they could destroy Jesus, but you cannot destroy what you did not create. They might had on your calling, but thank God they are not in control of my calling.

The strength of my calling, through the power of God can cause me to be silent in the face of accusers and forgive people in the midst of crucifixion, and save them in the face of judgement.

See I can control Barabbas, I can put him in jail but I cannot control the man who has power over life and death. Sometimes I just have to take my cross and let God show them that He had the power all along.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

When they finally released Barabbas, the bible says Jesus was delivered to be scourged, they took him to the Praetorium. It’s interesting that they took Jesus to be scourged in the place in which military and government affairs were handled. They said they weren’t afraid by mocking him, yet they needed a whole garrison or entire troop to beat him. Sometimes your power isn’t shown by how well you take a beating but how many people they have to bring to beat you.

Envy will cause people to convict of something that you are because they can’t accept the fact that God can use someone like you. They went out of their way to ridicule Jesus, dressed him in crown, and put a robe on him. Not just any robe but a robe signifying the color of royalty.

You have to be careful of envy, because what you do out of a spirit of ridicule really exposes who that person truly is. The bible says “and they bowed the knee before him and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews”.

Conclusion

In a world that wants violence we have to give them peace, in a world that wants revenge we have to give them forgiveness. In a world that wants Barabbas we have to give them Jesus. Even when envy leads to mockery, and mockery crucifixion we have to be willing to give the world Jesus even when it hurts.

Give them Jesus and God will remove your accusers. They needed a garrison to beat him, but typically only 4 people crucified the accused. Of those 4 accused and 2 thieves crucified next to Jesus, one thief recieved salvation and the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus feared greatly and said “Truly this was the Son of God”.

Sometimes we have to give them crucifixion so they see Christ. Sometimes we have to endure the mocking in order for the world to see his majesty.

Sometimes the world has to see Barabbas in order to experience Jesus.