“Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’ For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.” (Matthew 27:15-18)
Imagine the look on Barabbas’ face when he learned that he, and not Jesus, would be set free.
It was customary on a major holiday for the Roman governor to set a prisoner free. But Pilate’s decision to set free a criminal like Barabbas was an opportunity for God to make a point!
Jesus and Barabbas were both facing execution for vastly different reasons. Barabbas was despised by those in Roman rule while Jesus was despised by those in Jewish rule. Barabbas, however, was the leader of a riot that resulted in murder. Jesus, while deemed a rebel by those of Jewish authority, was guilty of nothing.
The Bible is clear that Pilate, the Roman governor in whose hands Jesus’ fate rest, believed Jesus was innocent. “Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’” But the crowd saw it very differently. “They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’ Then the governor said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’” (Matthew 27:22-23)
What Pilate likely thought was a stroke of political genius backfired on him. If he gave the Jews an option between the worst of the lot and someone who had committed no crimes, Jesus would likely be set free. But the crowd that day saw it very differently, which prompted Pilate to say, “‘I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.’ And all the people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children.’ Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:24-26)
As far as we know, Barabbas was the first to be set free from Jesus’ finished work on the cross. The story reminds us that no one is too far removed from God’s saving grace. No matter what sin we may have committed, God’s forgiveness is available.
Charles Wesley wrote a great hymn, Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing. Two of the verses remind us that God’s mercy and grace can set us free.
He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood avails for me.
See all your sins on Jesus laid;
The Lamb of God was slain;
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.
The story of Barabbas was not in the Bible just to contrast sin against righteousness. God has a far greater point to make. We are all sinners in His eyes – just as guilty as Barabbas. And only through the blood of Jesus can we be set free. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)
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