Give Us Barabbas!

At that time, they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So, after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”  Matthew 27:16-17 (New Oxford Bible)

How many times during holy week have you heard the story of the trial of Jesus and wondered why Barabbas is in this story? Who in the world is he, and what did he have to do with Jesus’ trial? This has puzzled me for a long time. 

In Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s “Book of Mysteries,” I read a message called, “The Identical.’ It was about Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). In ancient times, the ritual was that the high priest would stand before the people with two perfect and identical goats. (See Leviticus 16:6-11) Then he would draw out two lots from an urn. One lot was placed on each goat’s head identifying one as the sacrifice and one as the scapegoat who would be let go.

What does this have to do with the trial of Jesus? In the eyes of the people, the two Jesus’ were identical. Jesus Barabbas name means “Son of the Father.” Jesus the Messiah was the “Son of God the Father.” 

The custom of allowing one prisoner to go free at Passover time came from the ancient custom of the Day of Atonement. Jesus Barabbas is guilty of the charges Jesus the Messiah is accused of - sedition, insurrection, and treason; but Jesus the Messiah is innocent. The people cry out for Barabbas. Barabbas becomes the scapegoat and goes free. Jesus the Messiah takes on the guilt and becomes the sacrifice with no penalty left for Jesus Barabbas. 

If Jesus were to die for our sin, he would have to become like us – flesh and blood – our identical. 

Jesus took on our guilt, so no penalty is left for us. He died to save us from our sin. He is our salvation. We are set free.

Halleluiah! Praise the Lord!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You and we love You, but so often we do not understand You. We are so grateful for Your plan of our salvation and the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus the Christ, who was born of flesh and blood and became our identical.  He died on the cross to save us from our sin. We are set free from our guilt. Please forgive us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Judy Welch