BARABBAS IN THE BIBLE, THE EXCHANGE WITH JESUS
The story of Barabbas in the Bible, replaced by Jesus, reflection, study
Barabbas in the Bible is a living example of history itself
The most dramatic examples occur in the story of the crucifixion. Think, for example, of Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross, as Christ told his disciples they would do (Mark 15:21). Or the criminal crucified next to Jesus who receives forgiveness at the last minute (Luke 23:39-43). Or the Roman centurion who oversees the execution and then exclaims, on behalf of billions of Gentiles for centuries to come: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39). The same happens with Barabbas in the Bible.
Barabbas in the Bible, a story of sharing with Jesus
Barabbas in the Bible, a story of exchange
Besides the character examples mentioned above, my favorite example is Barabbas in the Bible. On one level, theirs is a simple trading story. Barabbas must die for his sins, and he deserves it. However, without doing anything to deserve mercy, he discovers that Jesus is going to die in his place.
Barabbas, having woken in the morning expecting nothing more than a slow and horrible death, is at home at night, perhaps with his family. We clearly intend to see ourselves in this man: Destined for death but finding freedom and life through the death of another, that other being our Lord Jesus Christ.
The story of Barabbas in the Bible, more than an exchange, was a substitution
If we reflect for a moment, it becomes clear that this is not simply an exchange, but a substitution. In the Bible, Jesus not only dies instead of Barabbas; but he dies in his place as his substitute, his representative. We know this because, and this is often overlooked, Barabbas and Jesus are accused of the same crime: Sedition, insurrection, treason.
WHO WAS BARABBAS? WHO WAS BARRABAS IN THE BIBLE?
Who was Barabbas in the Bible?
The Scriptures tell us that Barabbas was a notorious criminal imprisoned for murder. It should also be noted that his crimes were linked to the insurrection in the city.
The reason this is important is that it makes Barabbas more than just the common criminal, as he is sometimes portrayed. He was part of the resistance. For decades, there was a growing tension between the Jewish people and the Romans who ruled them. No doubt there were times when violence broke out in the streets.
Full details of Barabbas’s crimes are not available, but it is highly likely that he was involved in a skirmish or mutiny that led to the death of a Roman soldier. The punishment for political crimes was death by crucifixion.
The gospel accounts show the Roman governor carrying out his tradition and the overwhelming crowd choosing the rebel over Jesus. They shouted “Give us Barabbas!” and “Crucify Him” (Jesus). Pilate hesitated, even when his wife warned him of a disturbing dream, but he chose to follow the will of the crowd.
Barabbas in the Bible, a criminal sentenced to death
Barabbas was a criminal sentenced to death under Roman law for insurrection and murder. Pontius Pilate offered the chief priests and Israel the choice of releasing Barabbas or Jesus. Unfortunately, like many other cases, Israel chose a path that was against God for their own desires and purposes. Pilate granted the death sentence to Jesus. He was scourged and crucified.
The accounts of Jesus and Barabbas in the Bible can be found in Matthew 27, John 18, Mark 15, and Luke 23. Peter also mentions the event in Acts 3.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BARRABBAS IN THE BIBLE?
What else can we say about Barabbas in the Bible?
There is nothing that happens under God that does not have a reason. Even the name Barabbas has meaning. Barabbas is probably an Aramaic patronymic. Bar (Son of) Abba (Father), that is, son of the father. It is also said that Bar (Son of) Rabban (Master)
Barabbas in the Bible, a rebel who faced Rome
Barabbas is likely the son of a Jewish teacher. So, Barabbas was a rebel taking on Rome and there’s a good chance his lineage came from teachers of the law. He represented more than just murder or a hardened criminal. Barabbas was a reflection of what the Jewish people thought of the promised Messiah.
Jesus was condemned because the religious leaders did not recognize who He was. Jesus was the Messiah. For millennia, God promised a Savior to Israel. Unfortunately, Israel misunderstood what that would be like.
Israel expected a physical king, like David, who would help them defeat their enemies. They looked at Rome and thought that their promise was to seize the Empire, led by a king, and dominate as a physical nation. God’s plan had always been different.
Jesus came to give them citizenship in the Kingdom of God. Choosing Jesus would not equate to political dominance and battlefield conquest. That’s why they rejected it. He did not align with his paradigm of God’s plan.
At that critical moment when they shouted “Give us Barabbas!” they were rejecting God’s plan to take them out of the old covenant and into the new.
The crowd that day had a choice in front of them with Barabbas and Jesus. Choose a child of the law and a temporary fading covenant or go with the Son of God who will lead you to an everlasting promise.
BARABBAS AND JESUS IN THE BIBLE, TWO DIFFERENT PATHS FOR ISRAEL
Barabbas and Jesus according to the Bible
The story of Barabbas and Jesus is much more significant than a bump in the road to the crucifixion. Barabbas and Jesus represented two very different paths for Israel.
If we are not careful, we may even fall into a similar trap today. The Apostle Paul spoke about choosing between the temporal and the eternal.
We often choose temporary, physical victories. But, they lead to disappointment and loss. Nothing here lasts forever. For everything there is a season.
God wants us to live from a place of eternal victory, where physical things come and go but the Kingdom we possess and all the rewards that come from it are forever.
WE ARE BARABBAS
We are the Barabbas of the Bible
One would think that the image of Jesus carrying his cross would have been etched in Barabbas’ mind and heart for the rest of his life. While Barabbas tries to rule by taking the lives of others, Jesus does so by giving his own life. One wants to overthrow the king, and the other is the legitimate King of the people. One is guilty and will be released, and the other is an innocent man who is about to be killed. As mentioned above, Barabbas means son of the father, however, the true Son of the Father, who is innocent, will go to his death. They released the wrong son.
Jesus took the punishment of Barabbas
Jesus was going to be killed for the kind of crime the released man actually committed. The ironies continue. Jesus literally took Barabbas’s punishment for him. Jesus even marched to his death as Barabbas would have. Jesus went willingly and in silence. And yet it wasn’t because he had lost. Jesus was not deceived by his opponents. This was not a mistake or an accident. It was not plan B in God’s eternal plan of salvation. The crucifixion of the innocent Lamb of God was God’s plan from eternity.
In Luke 9 we read that Jesus turned his face toward Jerusalem because he was on a mission. All his life was moving towards Golgotha, towards that hill where he would die. His life was a march toward that cross. He lived to die. Jesus once said: “…I lay down my life, to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I put it on myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again” (John 10:17-18).
The Jews chose the wrong man, but the Lord presented the right one. That is the gospel. “He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
We are Barabbas and Jesus was our substitute according to the Bible
You and I are sinners. We sit in a spiritual prison, bound and helpless, waiting for the day when we will receive the just punishment we deserve. We sit on death row waiting to be dragged to die without knowing when God’s just judgment will come.
The good news is that when you repent of your sin and trust Jesus to save you, Jesus goes to the cross in your place. He gets what we really deserved; Jesus made the greatest exchange in all of history. Jesus gives his life so that you and I can have life. We are Barabbas and Jesus was our substitute.