The crowds were right: somebody needs to pay. We all want justice, and the craving for it is a righteous one. Sin cannot go unpunished, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
In Matthew 27 we read the account of Jesus and Barabbas, two men paraded before an angry crowd under the watchful eye of Pontius Pilate. A strange custom was unfolding; mob mentality was both judge and jury. Given the choice between two prisoners, the crowds got to decide who walked away a free man.
Barabbas was guilty, and no one was denying it. His crimes were “notorious,” widely known (Matthew 27:16). Jesus, on the other hand, was innocent. Still the crowds looked at Him and screamed, “Crucify him!” (v.22). They were not blind to Barabbas’s guilt—they simply failed to recognize their own. Spiritual blindness kept them from seeing how much they needed the Savior standing right in front of them.
“You denied the Holy and Righteous One
and asked to have a murderer released to you.
You killed the source of Life,
whom God raised from the dead;
we are witnesses of this” (Acts 3:14–15).
The crowds allowed the guilty man to walk in freedom. Is this ringing any bells? We are all Barabbas. All of us “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). When it comes to sin, we’re guilty, notorious sinners who cannot stand against the holy scrutiny of God.
Though I’d love to read this passage and villainize Barabbas, I can’t, not really. He is the poster child for the good news, a symbol of the atonement Jesus made for us all. True, Barabbas was guilty, but there’s no use in pointing fingers. In one way or another, we are all guilty.
For soon after Jesus took Barabbas’s place before the crowds, He took our place at Calvary. This is the gospel! Jesus chose the cross. He walked toward it willingly so that the guilty—like Barabbas, like you, like me—could be spared the punishment we deserve and walk away in freedom.
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37 thoughts on "Barabbas"
We are all Barabbas.
I heard think I heard a mike drop.
Looking that song up now! I’m running a little late in the party!
I love this new perspective on this story that I have read countless times. We may not have committed the same sins that Barabbas did, but we are have sinned in some way. Anytime we have fallen short of the glory of God, we have sinned. I thank the Lord that we have been set free from sin by Christ!
Lord help me.. in Jesus name Amen
Crowder has a song about the angry crowd yelling crucify…Red Letters. Expresses this message so well.
“We are all Barabbas”. I’ve always been so focused on the injustice of the situation, I’ve never thought about it from that perspective. It is a beautiful picture of the Gospel.
Love the reminder that we all are Barabas
Wow this was so good. This reading gave me a new perspective on these scriptures!!!
I love how this study is pulling out scriptures I’ve read so many times before, but shedding fresh light on them. I’ve been intentionally asking Jesus to illuminate the Word, to reveal truth and to help me glean wisdom. For the first time, I’m really seeing myself in these accounts. I am Barabbas! I am the angry mob! And Jesus is still Jesus, never changing, always looking at us with love and compassion. His steadfastness is shown all the more as I realize my own wavering, and I cling to Him all the more. And I love reading all of your responses on here, to see what spoke to you and see new insights I may otherwise have missed. Love this forum!
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So Barabbas’ first name was Jesus.
“Quite literally, Pilate asks the crowd if they want Jesus, the son of a father, or Jesus, the son of the Father.
This is the kind of stuff that sticks in people’s minds. If you’re teaching a Bible study or preaching a sermon, you can guarantee people will remember this question: “Which Jesus do you want?”
This wouldn’t be the first time people chose the wrong Jesus. Throughout history, Christians have made Jesus into who they want him to be. We often choose a Jesus that looks a bit more like us: physically, politically, ideologically. The crowd that day did the same, and wound up murdering the person who loves them the most.”
https://www.olivetree.com/blog/which-jesus-do-you-want/?spMailingID=64487513&spUserID=MjkxMzc1MTMyNjg0S0&spJobID=1860868266&spReportId=MTg2MDg2ODI2NgS2
Wow
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Yesterday I was busy and unable to respond to post but I want to respond to Bessie H. and Angela Sutherland, Johnny Paycheck has a song called “The Outlaw’s Prayer”. Everytime I hear it I cry. The message in it is so true. LeAnn Schmitt, I too long to know and one day we will know. Momtomany, thanks for the information that is great to know. Anna, I can see that too. NanaK, I will proclaim that with you loud and clear. Lindsay C., I never even thought of it like that.
Tina, tears flow while I read it.
Churchmouse, your words speak volumes and say what many can’t. Thank you.
Leann Schmitt, is that part of a song, those words are beautiful.
Sue, I have always wonder that same thing. We will only know when we get to Heaven.
Lindsay C. , you have made a good point.
Angie, wow what you write almost everyday enlightens my knowledge and love of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Amen, Mari V., Maura, amen.
I agree with you Cyndi so grateful for the comments written each day by such Godly women. ❤️ I learn every day in these teachings and often re-write and meditate on their words in my journal to stay focused on the light in such dark times.
I’m not that familiar with the book of Acts, so when I read Acts 3:1-16, I was in awe of Peter’s reference of Barabbas’ release and Christ’s crucifixion. Peter told the Israelite people how he felt and the told them the truth of Christ, the Son of God. It reminds me of how Jesus would go into the temple and take over and talk. Erin points out, “Spiritual blindness kept them from seeing how much they needed the Savior standing right in front of them.” I love how she goes on to write about how it was Jesus’ and ultimately God’s choice for Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Christ died so that I/we might have eternal life and for this I am very grateful. Thank you Lord.
We’ve had essays about “bad guys” three days in a row.
Judas Iscariot – One of the 12. He knew Jesus intimately. Jesus gave him love and acceptance. Even as Jesus called him friend, Judas betrayed Him with a kiss.
Pilate – the quintessence of power and political authority, encumbered by fear of the loss of that power, to the point of giving in to bad choices. Pilate knew “of” Jesus. Pilate spent time with Jesus, and recognized there was no fault in Him. But when push came to shove…Pilate allowed an innocent man to be punished – an innocent man who was the Son of God.
Barabbas – truly a bad guy on a daily basis, on purpose – notorious murderer and thief, guilty. Barabbas made bad choice after bad choice, living a life exactly the opposite of Jesus. He may or may not have heard about Jesus. To him, Jesus may have simply been the guy who took his punishment.
All 3 of these men created by God on purpose.
All 3 of these men made choices.
Jesus loved and died for all 3.
We could add the woman at the well to the list, or the woman caught in adultery.
We could add every friend of Jesus who has turned away.
We could add every politician, administrator, or person of authority.
We could add every person who chooses evil over good on a regular basis.
We would be added to that list.
Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
All, have sinned. All, have a choice,… thanks to Jesus.
Jesus’s love and offer of redemption remains.
May we accept the love and redemption. May we live out the love and redemption.
Always and only because of Jesus. May He be glorified! Amen.
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Wow Angie! Excellent way to put it in proper perspective! Thank you! ❤️
I use to read SRT and hurry off to start my day. Then one day I read the comments. Now I feel I only have a tiny piece if don’t read you ladies thoughts on it too. I love this group and your love for each other. Thank you for letting me be apart of God’s love here.
This is so true! The commentary and comments are where the meat is for me. I tend to read and not really take it in until I read these. So good! Thankful for you ladies who constantly comment.
Amen, Loved beyond measure, beyond our comprehension by a Holy God. Praise Jesus for his redemptive love that saves the lost. So thankful. Praying for you Angie, thankful you were not hurt more. Thank you Tina, it is Amazing all that God planned for our good and when we are caught in tough circumstances, He is still working it out. Hold tight to Jesus and see all He has for us.
I like the paradox of Pilate washing his hands to demonstrate how Jesus’ blood is not on him, marking his innocence, yet Jesus’ blood is the only thing that can purify us.
It was for freedom Christ has set us free!
Amen
Wow Tina! Your thoughts this morning really brought things home. You had me in tears too.
How was Barabbas’s life changed by Jesus?
Was he a follower of Jesus after he was released or did he go on thinking he had just ‘dodged a bullet’?
May I be ever grateful for what Jesus did for me – that He chose to die in my place.
May I recognize his love for me.
May I recognize the wonderful gift – the grace and mercy – that was given to me that day.
May I rejoice that I now walk in freedom.
And may I live in that freedom well.
Thank you Tina for responding exactly as I was thinking.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
Amen
Tina, you said it perfectly. Amen. Thank you Jesus for taking my sin and letting me walk away. Thank you Lord for being present in my life. Lead me in your way.
Thank you Tina!
Injustice doubled. It was unjust to condemn an innocent Jesus to death. It was unjust to set a guilty murderer free. Yet God turns evil upside down in His economy. What was meant for evil turns to good. Jesus came as the substitutionary sacrifice for us all, to save all us guilty ones from the death penalty we deserve. Barabbas’ undeserved freedom is a type for us all. He was merely the first. We who believe all stand in line behind him. Jesus paid our debt. A debt we can never repay. Praise God, we don’t have to. Jesus did it all!
Reading this reminded me of the film, Sliding doors.. a story of a woman fired from her job, comes home and catches her boyfriend with another… or does she?? Two parallels.. catch the train, this scenario, miss the train, that scenario..
Here’s my thing, if, in our minds now, as we read this story, we think Jesus should have not been crucified, but Barabas, where would WE be now? What sort of world would WE be living in? Would we be meeting here most mornings to share our Love of Jesus and the Goodness of God..?
I have to believe that this had to happen, that although, it doesn’t make sense in our minds of good and bad, like any book or story with a hero, we want them to win through, ‘this hero’ Jesus, could not end the way it should have, to make it all rosy and fluffy…
No..
But God…
He, being the writer/ author of our story, had a far better plan than what our minds can or could conceive. To show us His love, to help us understand His unconditional, for always, don’t matter where, what, how we’ve journeyed, whatever our sin, His love for us, yes the same ‘us’, shouting “crucify him “, endured for us, absolutely whatever should have been our punishment for our sins, that we might be put right with God..
‘…so that you and me, we, together with all God’s people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ’s love.
(Ephesians 3:18)
The story, was written, prophesied even, and was as it was meant to be, for US. For our Salvation. For our Redemption. For our eyes to be opened to the Faithful, Awesome, Redemptive Love of God. That story had to begin there.. Jesus or Barabas… Barabas or Jesus..
It’s hard to get ones head around..
But God…
This had to happen, for us to be saved..
Thank you Jesus, for taking my sin, my shame upon yourself, for fighting for me, in your silence, for STILL, taking and carrying MY cross, even as Imy voice could be heard shouting “crucify him”, tears flow as I write, and so they should..
But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!
Romans 5:8
THANK YOU JESUS. THANK YOU..
Amen..
Go in peace Sisters.. wrapped in love and hugs for a God blessed day.❤
Amen!
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