“Which of the two do you want me to release to you? “asked the governor (Matt.27:21).
Exactly who was Barabbas? Matthew records that he was a ”notorious prisoner,” further described in history as a well -known criminal jailed for robbery, murder, and insurrection against the Roman government. Because it was the custom of the governor to release a prisoner of the crowd’s choosing, the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. Ironic that a man whose name means “son of the father” should be given a second chance, while the One called “the Son of God”–and the One in whom the governor found no fault–took his place. It is a painful fulfillment of the original Passover promise that God made with the Israelites saying, “When I see the blood I will pass over you” (Ex.12:23). It was a foreshadowing of the blood soon to be shed by the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. And the crowd was blood thirsty.
I wonder if Barabbas knew that many in the crowd did not really admire him or care about his future because after all, his attempt at overthrowing the Roman government had failed. Similarly, Jesus’s triumphal entry had culminated in a disappointing discovery that He did not come to overthrow the government, and to add insult to injury, He cast aspersions on the religious leadership of the Jewish community. His teachings about the kingdom of heaven made enemies of those more concerned with the kingdom of earth and their authority in it. His mission to subdue man’s rebellious spirit and bring him into a right relationship with the King of all creation was unpopular, to say the least.
I wonder if Barabbas thought that he could return to his old way of life and escape judgment again. I wonder if he felt at all guilty because he knew he was not worthy of freedom at the expense of an innocent man taking the punishment that belonged to him. I wonder if he hoped to use his second chance to lead a better life, knowing that one day he would again face judgment and have to give an account of his life and deeds.
History doesn’t tell us the end of Barabbas’s story. But the Bible does tell us that “All have sinned,” and “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom.3:23; 3:10). Jesus took the punishment for all of us by going to the cross so like Barabbas we are set free. What will we do with our freedom? There is a “prince” who governs this world, urging us to choose between sin or righteousness, life or death, Jesus or Barabbas. Faith in Christ can release us from the grip of the Evil prince if we choose Christ. John 12:30 records Jesus teaching the crowd that …”now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” May we not yield to the influence of a crowd mentality, but respond to the still, small voice that invites us to choose Him, not Barabbas.