Give us Barabbas

Yesterday was Easter, and I’ve been thinking about Barabbas.  Barabbas isn’t very well known.   He’s mentioned in all four of the Gospels, but all we know about him is that he was in a Roman prison for murder and insurrection.  We don’t know if he was the leader of the uprising or if he actually did the killing.  It could be that he was a hardened criminal, committed to the destruction of Roman rule with a deep hatred for the establishment; a murderer with no feeling of remorse for the death he caused. Or. He could be a young man who got caught up in a street demonstration with a group of his friends, bored and out looking for something to do. When the rocks started flying and a Roman soldier was hit in the temple and killed, maybe he was horrified.  Maybe he was the geeky kid down the block who when along with the cool guys to a demonstration and didn’t run fast enough when things got out of hand. We just don’t know.  But what we do know is that the Jews in Jerusalem knew him. When Pilate met with Jesus, he went out to the crowd and told them he could find nothing serious enough against Jesus to justify all the fuss.  In fact, Pilate had heard of Jesus and and looked forward to meeting him.  He’d hoped he could see Jesus perform a miracle.

Everyone including Pilate was surprised then when the crowd began chanting for the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.  Pilate tried to dissuade them, but in the end he did what the crowd asked.  He released Barabbas and sent Jesus to be executed.  Picture this. It’s Passover and the city is crowded. Emotions are high.  We don’t know how long Barabbas had been in prison, but even if it was a short time, it felt like a long time.  All of a sudden, the guards come for him and he may have been thinking, “Yup, this is it, I’m done for.” Instead, he is given his watch and the change from his pocket back, he’s given his street clothes and sneakers and he’s released.  His mom is there crying and laughing. So are his uncles and friends.  They all go back to to the house and have a late lunch, thankful for the surprising turn of events that freed him.

Now consider three days later.  Barabbas has been sleeping peacefully each night in his own bed. He’s rested and the bruises he got in prison are fading.  He starts this Monday morning thinking about all that’s happened to him and wondering where he goes from here.  Maybe he is planning on doing a little job hunting today.  Then the news starts circulating.  “Did you hear? That guy they executed in your place? That Jesus character?  His body is missing and they are saying he’s risen from the dead!”  As the weeks go by, Barabbas hears more stories.  He listens in the temple courtyard when Jesus’ apostles start explaining that Jesus has been resurrected and why.  He reads the account in the newspaper about His ascension.  He has friends that were there when Peter spoke to the crowd and the Holy Spirit descended and he realizes that Jesus died in his place and rose for him.  Literally. Jesus occupied the cross that was intended for Barabbas and died there even while Barabbas and his family were celebrating. Can you imagine how that felt? Can you imagine how humbled and thankful and awed Barabbas felt at this miraculous turn of events?

I hope you can.  I hope I can.  My name isn’t Barabbas, but it could and should be.  Jesus died on MY CROSS. Jesus died and I go out to lunch and because of His sacrifice have nothing to fear in the future.  Jesus died for me and for you.  Wow.  Happy Easter Monday!