One of the most interesting characters mentioned in the New Testament was a man named Barabbas. Having been tried before Pilate for being an insurrectionist, found guilty, and sentenced to die, his cell was very likely located in the fortress of Antonia in the city of Jerusalem. The Roman governor, Pilate, was holding court within hearing distance. As he was waiting to be crucified Barabbas possibly heard the crowd outside his cell cry out words that chilled him to the bone: “Crucify him! Crucify him!” He knew the time was approaching when he would hear the footsteps of Roman soldiers coming to escort him to die on a Roman cross.
According to the accounts by Matthew and Mark, during the Feast of Passover the governor normally set free any prisoner the people wanted released. It is not known how this custom began, but it was clearly in place at the time Jesus was brought before Pilate to be tried. Prior to this very important feast the people would approach the Roman governor and ask that a specific prisoner to be set free.
Being anti-Semitic, Pilate had absolutely no sympathy with this Jewish custom. On this occasion, however, he welcomed it. First of all, he knew that the charge against Jesus had been trumped up by the Jewish authorities. He also knew that if he did not go along with crowd’s demand, a riot could possibly take place. Should a bad report be sent to Rome about his regime, he could possibly lose his position as governor.
The second dilemma Pilate faced was that he was convinced Jesus was innocent. Also, his wife had dreamed Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against Him. It is interesting that of all the judges before whom Jesus stood, Pilate gave Him a chance to declare His innocence. He looked only for the facts, and they led him to believe that Jesus was not guilty of the crime with which He had been charged. When the crowd refused to accept Pilate’s judgment, he washed his hands of the matter and allowed Jesus to be crucified.
As we look back upon that eventful day, this question remains: Why, of all the prisoners who were sitting in Roman cells waiting to be tried, did Pilate select Barabbas as the one he would offer to be released? Why not one of the two thieves who would later that day be crucified along with Jesus? Why would Pilate offer to set free a man described in Matthew 27:15 as being notorious? The word “notorious” meant that Barabbas was much more than a petty thief, picking pockets as he walked along the crowded streets of Jerusalem. He was a murderer, a hardened criminal. Josephus, the famous Jewish historian of the day, agreed with Matthew that Barabbas was indeed notorious.
“When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate asked them, ‘which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’” (Matthew 27:17). “They all answered, ‘Crucify him!’” (Matthew 27:22). At this point Pilate gave in and allowed Jesus to be crucified.
Imagine that you are Barabbas in that cell, believing your time on planet earth is growing very short. Feel his tensions as the footsteps of Roman centurions are heard coming to escort you to your death on a cross. Your heart is beating rapidly, and your breathing becomes shallow. But when the cell door swings open, Barabbas hears these amazing words, “You may go free, for another man has died in your place.”
The freedom Barabbas gained when he heard those words can be yours. Yes, Jesus Christ also died for you. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
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