According To Luke: Bring Out Barabbas

 According To Luke: Bring Out Barabbas 

Opening Illustration:

How many of you have ever watched “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”? Good, most people have. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is a fairly simple show. Basically it is just a trivia show. You start out with a $100 question. It is pretty easy. You have 4 choices…a,b,c, or d to answer the question correctly. It is a multiple choice game show. The questions get harder along the way. The more questions that you answer correctly, the harder the questions are and the more money there is at stake. Eventually the contestant will get stumped. If they do, they have three lifelines. They can have two of the answers removed giving them a 50% chance of getting it correct. They can phone a friend hoping that their friend will give them the correct answer. The last lifeline is to poll the audience. The original host of the show, Regis Philbin once stated that the ask the audience lifeline was correct 95% of the time. In fact, most of the times when I watched the show and a contestant used the lifeline, the crowd was right. 

I did some digging. By digging I mean I went to google and asked how often the ask the audience lifeline worked. I was a bit surprised. If the audience was polled before the 10th question, they were nearly perfect. However, if the audience was polled question 10 or later, the audience was almost never correct. So the higher the stakes, the more the crowd failed. When the chips were down, when the contestant was playing for all the marbles, the crowd became less useful. In fact, the crowd often led the contestant away from the correct outcome. 

Point:

Perhaps the most important “ask the audience” question was asked some 2000 years ago by Pontius Pilate. If you remember, Pilate was the Roman governor placed in charge of Judea. He operated out of Jerusalem. Pilate met Jesus last week if you remember. He found no basis for the charges against Jesus. In fact, he found no guilt in Him at all. Pilate, due to the concerns of his wife, sent Jesus away to Herod. Herod wanted to turn Jesus into a party favor but Jesus would not play along. Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate. If you remember, Jerusalem had swelled in population because of the Passover celebration. There could have been upwards of 2 million people in the city at the time. Pilate hated being put in the position that he in. He did not want to kill Jesus. Other Gospels tell us that Pilate had Jesus taken away and beaten and whipped. He thought that would be enough but the Sanhedrin would not have it. They wanted blood. Pilate, somewhat familiar with Jewish customs was reminded that during this period of time one prisoner could be set free. Surly they would pick Jesus. He presented Jesus and another man, Barabbas. Barabbas was actually guilty of the charges against him. Barabbas was an insurrectionist and a murderer. There was no comparison between Jesus and Barabbas. Jesus was a miracle man. He raised the dead, cured the incurable, and fed thousands. Barabbas was a blight on society. He was a terror on his own people. 

So Pilate, stumped, polls the audience. Who do you want he asks. Barabbas. Give us Barabbas. What about Jesus questions Pilate? Kill him. Crucify Him. Pilate is baffled. Surly not. He asks again. Again, the crowd begs for Barabbas. This is the same crowd that cried Hosanna just a few days ago by the way. The same crowd that worshipped Jesus. They are now calling for His execution. The crowd can be quite fickle. They can be for you on second and against you the next. You see cancel culture has been around a long time. Perhaps the first canceled person ever was Jesus. 

Oh friends, beware the crowd. The crowd choose insurrection over innocence. They choose a murderer over the Messiah. Fill that in this morning. 

The Crowd Chose Insurrection Over Innocence and A Murderer Over The Messiah!

Background and Context of Luke 23:13-25

Jesus Christ has been arrested and taken before the authorities. Many false accusations have been thrown up. The mob mentality has set in.

The Jews are fed up with Rome and want change. They had hoped that this Jesus would have risen up and overthrown the current administration. Since that has not taken place, they are more than miffed at Him. The religious leaders are so full of hatred for Jesus that they are beside themselves. He has revealed their deceitfulness time and time again. Now, these two groups have a common purpose: to avenge this Man who has grieved them sore.

There were many accusations made against Jesus, and there were many contradictions. All in all, they came up with three main charges against Him.

1. He incited the people to not pay their taxes to the roman government.

2. Jesus was trying to usurp authority by claiming to be king.

3. Blasphemy by claiming to be God.

As stated earlier, Jesus has been passed around from person to person and He has found his way back in Pilate’s court. You know the rest of the story. Everyone has heard of the notable prisoner called Barabbas who was chosen by the people to be released on the morning of Jesus’ crucifixion. He was preferred above our Saviour; he was pardoned and walked free while Christ was condemned to the death of the cross. All the gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John refer to the release of Barabbas.

Now let’s take a moment and read from Luke’s Gospel. We will start in chapter 23 and read from verses 13-25. For further context, we will also read the same story from Mark’s Gospel, chapter 15, verses 6-11. 

Scripture:

Luke 23:13-25 ESV

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him.”

18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Mark 15:6-11 ESV

6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.

Barabbas, Swept Away By Grace

I. Pilate’s Dilemma vs. 13-20

Luke 23:13-20 ESV

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him.”

18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus…

Point:

Church remember that during this period of time it was customary for one prisoner to be released during the time of the Passover. It was not a Roman custom, but a Jewish custom. Notice that I say custom because the practice cannot be found to be commanded in the Scripture. There was nothing in the Scriptures that required one prisoner to be released at the Passover, and even when you read the writings of the rabbis and the Talmud there is no mention whatsoever of this tradition. What is interesting is that every single Gospel writer mentions this story about Barabbas. There is no question that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John included this story because of the sheer miscarriage of justice that occurred against Christ. Giving one man his freedom at the Passover appealed to the national psyche. The freed man then had a moment of glory; he became a popular hero in the country. He symbolized a whole people who were longing for freedom, in a way that Nelson Mandela’s release from prison spoke to the disenfranchised of South Africa about their imminent right to vote; they would be determining their own destiny.

Of course, the crowd who were yelling for the release of Barabbas weren’t theologians. They weren’t approaching his liberty with insights from the history of redemption. They weren’t analyzing the eschatology of Israel. Festivals take on a life of their own, for example, our Christmas festivities have long departed from the celebration of the coming of the incarnate God. And so it was in crowded, bustling, feasting Jerusalem, this chanting mob weren’t preachers or rabbis; these were poor people who were sick of being oppressed and Barabbas to them represented a Robin Hood of sorts. They weren’t the upright keepers of the Passover. These men wanted a dungeon door unlocked, and the prison doors to be opened and a fellow countryman, incarcerated by the hated Romans, freed. Barabbas’ cronies were no doubt leading the chanting.

Perhaps it was Pilate himself who hit on the idea that he might profit from this Passover custom and so maybe he took the initiative and presented Jesus to the crowd as the candidate for freedom. We know that the longer he had spent in the presence of Jesus the less happy he felt in condemning him to be crucified. He had had time to think about what would be his next step because he had sent Jesus across to Herod’s palace.

Chances are Pilate was hoping that Herod would do something about this Jesus. Pilate clearly did not want Jesus’ blood on his hands. He was thrilled to have Jesus exit his palace. Now he was Herod’s problem. I don’t think that it is to far of a stretch to think that Pilate suffered from some anxiety that maybe, just maybe, Herod might send Jesus back to him. What would would he do if Herod were to much of a coward to do away with Jesus?

Pilate formulated a plan. First, he would encourage the people to vote for Jesus’ freedom announcing, “I am going to release to you Jesus of Nazareth.” But secondly, if that failed, Pilate thought he’d have Jesus whipped to within an inch of his life, and then present this horribly bloodied man to the Sanhedrin hoping that that shocking sight would satisfy them and they’d go away. If that happened then in the future Jesus would never be able to shake off the embarrassment of such a punishment. After all, Pilate would have Jesus stripped naked and beaten on both his front and His back. He would carry the markings of a criminal for the rest of His natural life. Pilate would turn Jesus into a pariah. Jesus would be a broken man for the rest of his life. These were the conclusions that godless Pilate came to when he considered what to do with the Son of God. But the Governor’s first line of action would be to offer Jesus to them to be freed.

Point:

So what is the application of this point? I believe that the application of this point is that life often presents us difficult choices that we must make. The most critical choice that we must all make is what will we do with this Jesus of Nazareth? It is the same choice that Pilate had to make. I believe that Pilate recognized Jesus’ holiness, His perfection, but he allowed himself to be steered by fear of the crowd. The mob was Pilate’s mentality. Brothers and sisters, it will become increasingly less popular to be a follower of Christ in the coming days. There is already a war brewing against Christianity. We see it when media outlets cover believers. We are portrayed as people of hate and intolerance. One day, like Pilate, we will be called to make a difficult choice of what we will do with Jesus. What choice will you make? Are you trying to decide today? 

Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live…

Barabbas, Swept Away By Grace

I. Pilate’s Dilemma vs. 13-20

II. Barabbas’ Delight vs. 18-23

Luke 23:18-23 ESV

18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 

Point:

I want to reveal to you something about Barabbas that you may not have ever heard or known. Do you know what Barabbas mean? Bar means “son”. Abbas means “father”. His name literally means “Son of the Father”. You may recall that Abba is more than just Father, it is also a term of endearment towards one’s father. It means Daddy or in ancient Judaism, Father’s love. So Barabbas actually means Son of the Father’s Love. Here is something interesting that I had never heard until I started preparing for this message. Do you know Barabbas’ first name? His first name is believed by scholars and theologians to be Yeshua. Joshua. Jesus. That’s right, Barabbas had the same first name as his innocent counterpart, Jesus. So think about his name once more. His name would have been Jesus, Son of the Father’s Love. Isn’t that interesting. That is why Pilate had to ask the people twice about Barabbas. He was asking for clarity because their names were the same. Pilate is asking them, are you sure that you mean that Jesus? Surly not. You don’t mean Barabbas Jesus, you mean Jesus of Nazareth. The people respond no, give us Barabbas, the murderer, the rapist, the insurrectionist. 

Church, walk back in time with me if you will. Jesus is in Jerusalem, in Roman control. He is being held and tried in Herod’s Palace Complex on the western side of the city. The palace was also called the Fortress Antonia. Outside the Palace walls was a large gathering area where the people would have gathered. Down the road, just inside the fortress were the holding cells for both Jesus and Barabbas. Pilate had Jesus removed from His cell. Chances are Barabbas would have been unaware that Jesus was even moved. Imagine that you are Barabbas. You are in your cell. You know that you are a murderer. You know that you are a hardened criminal. Then, from outside the walls, you begin to hear your name. The crowd shouting angrily Barabbas, followed by crucify him. Over and over again the chants are heard. Barabbas, as archeologist believe, would not have been able to hear the voice of one Pontius Pilate asking the crowd who they would want to be set free. Yet they believe that Barabbas would have heard the hundreds, perhaps thousands shouting in unison his name followed by crucify him, crucify him. 

Barabbas knew he was a dead man. Then suddenly, a Roman guard comes to his cell. He opens the door. Barabbas knows where he is headed. There is a tree with his name on it. Suddenly, the Roman guard unlocks his bindings. He tells him you are free to go. You have been set free. 

Imagine the shock. Imagine the joy. Imagine the sheer happiness of the moment. Yeshua Barabbas, Jesus, Son of the Loving Father has been set free while Jesus the Christ takes his place on the tree. What a miscarriage of justice. It gives new meaning to Galatians 5:1.

Galatians 5:1 ESV

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Barabbas, Swept Away By Grace

I. Pilate’s Dilemma vs. 13-20

II. Barabbas’ Delight vs. 18-23

III. Our Decision vs. 24 

Luke 23:24 ESV

24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Point:

Surly you see the story of Barabbas is actually our story. Friends we are all Barabbas. Without Christ we are disgusting sinners. Our penalty is death. Just read Romans 6:23 and everyone is guilty, read Romans 3:23. Our sin separates us from a Holy God just as Barabbas’ sin separated him from the people that might set him free. Barabbas deserved death and yet because of Jesus was spared. We deserve death and yet because of Jesus we are spared. His story is our story. 

Point:

You have been Barabbas this morning. Now I ask you to be a part of the crowed that chose him over Jesus. What would you have done? Who would you have voted for? 

You say, “Simple; I would have voted for Jesus to be freed.” Please consider my question again. Knowing what you know today, as a redeemed sinner, as someone washed in the blood of Christ, your desire, you say, would have been for Jesus not to die? Are you sure? You who glory in the cross of Jesus Christ, would you have delivered Christ from the cross? You say that you couldn’t bear the thought of him being crucified, that you love him too much to think of him being nailed to a cross. So do I, but I don’t want to be like Simon Peter at Caesara Philippi, horrified at our Lord’s prophesying his own suffering. We know that he has come as the Lamb of God. We know that he has to go Golgotha, and why his last breath must be on a cross. 

The fact that Jesus died on that cross for Barabbas, that he died on that cross for me, bring new definition to Romans 5:8. 

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Point:

This morning I am going to close with a video. A video about Barabbas. Actually a video about Jesus. Let this video be a closing to my remarks and I want you to think about where you stand with Christ. I want you to understand that Barabbas’ story is our story. 

Jesus Was Barabbas’ Blessing! He Can Be Yours Too!