Unlimited: Barabbas Instead of Jesus
Aug 12, 2024 2715
Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead (Mark 15:6–11, NIV).
Pilate was a brutal prefect of Judaea. One of his key jobs was to keep the Jews peaceful and quiet, and in this, he failed miserably.
There were, however, some practices that he supported which aimed to keep the people happy. One of these was the custom of releasing a prisoner at Passover.
Pilate tried to find a way to save Jesus. Terrorists back then were viewed much in the same way as they are viewed today. Barabbas was a murderous terrorist and Jesus had only taught peace and done good.
Pilate mockingly presented Jesus before the crowd, mockingly calling him the “king of the Jews.” He hoped to highlight the irony between the title and the bruised and battered man who stood meekly and peacefully before them. On the other hand, there was the angry, snarling terrorist.
Surely, Pilate thought, the crowd would choose Jesus over the murderous terrorist!
But the chief priests had done their work well, and they stirred up the crowd so that they asked cried out for Pilate to release the criminal to them instead.
Jesus Died Instead of Barabbas
Barabbas was probably the leader of the murderous terrorist gang who had been captured, and it was probably two men from that same gang who were due to be crucified with Jesus. The Romans were efficient. They crucified men in batches.
Because of the choice that was made that morning, Jesus was crucified in the place of Barabbas, and Barabbas walked free. Have you realised that you are Barabbas? Jesus died in his place just like he died in yours.
– Eliezer Gonzalez
Eli’s Reflection: Replay the events of that morning in your mind, replacing Barabbas with yourself. What feelings and emotions do you experience as you relive the story?
Olivia
May 24, 2021
Jesus came in peace and he came to show the world that it is a lot of love in this world if we can look into our hearts and love each other as he has shown us Jesus has taught me that if you have a ounces of love in your body then it can and will conquer all that ah waste into positive energy I feel what the Lord is saying because when you remove certain things from your life and certain people away from your life then you get to see the real you and not the pleasing you that's when we know it's time to remove all bad behaviors and bad habits in Jesus name and the holy Spirit my beluvin brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus name Amen amen.
JASON ANDREW TOPPIN
May 24, 2021
JESUS IS MY DELIVERER
Victoria Sefe
Apr 23, 2023
I walk free today because Christ Jesus died for my freedom