JESUS FOR BARABAS-THE PERFECT MOMENT

Matthew 27:26

"Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified". 

The Bible gives us a chronology of events which consequently led to the crucifixion of Jesus. One of them is the unfounded request by the Jews and their religious leaders to condemn Jesus in place of Barabbas who was a robber and rapist.

For Barabbas was a robber (John 18:40). But the custom of the Jews was that on the Passover, one of the prisoners would be released (John 18:39). Just the next day was the Passover. And this exercise of releasing one prisoner every Passover was always done the day before so to prepare for the Passover.

The day of the Passover itself being mentioned here is more than significant. For it was on the Passover that the angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites who had applied the blood of the lamb on their doorsteps as was instructed. 

All the rest who did not apply the same blood on their doorsteps were killed (Exodus 12:21-23). This is perfectly symbolic and telling of the mission of Jesus. That even how the blood was applied in the cross like structure was perfectly representative of the cross.

And that it is that every home upon whose doorpost there was no the blood of the lamb, a person or two died, it pretty explains how there is no other way a person can be saved except in Jesus Christ. For just like God directed people how to be saved from death in the Old Testament, so it is that God is directing us now to submit to Jesus so we are saved. For all these are instructions of God and not of men. If we take God's instructions, then we are safe. It is God who directs how we should be saved.

Now Jesus is our Passover (1Corinthians 5:7). For we are no longer required to keep the Passover in its old form. Jesus did it all for us at the cross.

When asked by the governor which of the two; Jesus and Barabbas he would release to them, the mob replied that he (Pilate) should release Barabbas. And then they were asked what should be done with Jesus. They replied that let Him be crucified (Matthew 27:22-24), (John 19:15). 

For on the Passover day, it was a custom to release one of the prisoners. And for this reason, Jesus was crucified and Barabbas who was a robber and a rapist was left free. And we can reliably say that Jesus who had no case to answer was condemned in place of Barabbas who had committed grave offenses and inflicted grievous pain on the community. We learn many lessons from this among which are the following;

• Jesus is the true Savior ans our Passover

• Salvation comes right to us 

• Iconic and symbolic of the fulfillment of the mission of Jesus 

• It is of us to embrace Salvation 

• Focus and Purpose

Jesus is the true Savior and our Passover

This event alone tells how true a Savior Jesus is. For whether the Jews did it oblivious of what implications it had or not, it remains to tell the true nature of Jesus. For all Jesus' life right from childhood up to when He was crucified and subsequently risen from the dead was pretty symbolic. 

That in the place of a robber, it was Jesus who was condemned on unfounded accusations. For Jesus came that the sinners be set free. The sin of man was worthy crucifixion. And cursed is the man who is hanged on the tree (Deuteronomy 21:23), (Galatians 3:13). But Jesus became that curse in place of the rest (2Corinthians 5:21). 

This is what happened with Barabbas. Had it not been for Jesus, Barabbas would have surely been executed. Thus Jesus insists that; if one denies He is (the Savior), he surely dies in his sins (John 8:24). Yet the reward for denying Jesus surely does await (Romans 6:23). For Jesus is the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29), (Revelation 6:15-17, 12:11, 17:14, 21:26-27, 22:3)

Salvation comes right to us

Unexpectedly and oblivious of what it was, Salvation had come to Barabbas. For Salvation is not about whether we have or have not seemingly sinned. Salvation comes from self realization of who we are. Man is a sinner and Barabbas was no exceptional (Romans 2:1-8, 3:23), (1 John 1:8-9). On this fact, Salvation comes to us any time anywhere because this is what Jesus came for. And when it comes, it should be a prayer that we take it. This way, we stand sure that we are safe. In Jesus is all the safety. 

Jesus gives an opportunity to everyone. No matter who that person is. It does not matter whether you played part in whatever happened to Him. For He came to save everyone. For the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:9-10). Everyone who is not in Jesus is lost sheep. And everyone who is in Jesus is found sheep.

Now, we have no more information about Barabbas thereafter, but if he knew how actual and significantly symbolic it was, there was no other opportune time particularly for Barabbas than this. That in Barabbas' place Jesus was executed, the only way for Barabbas to cease this opportunity was to give hie life to Jesus. For Barabbas was only spared on Jesus' account. 

The thief on the cross was quick to understand and grabbed the opportunity to submit to Jesus (Luke 23:43). And when he did so, he had it all. What others take too long to understand and make use of, the thief on the cross took and benefited from it in a matter of seconds.

Iconic and symbolic of Jesus' fulfillment of the mission

 

This event was iconic and symbolic of the fulfillment of the mission of Jesus. Jesus had come to save us from the consequential sin. This mission was first realistically fulfilled on Barabbas who had been a robber. 

For Jesus who was blameless and righteous was exchanged for Barabbas the robber and rapist. The fact being that our sins were expunged by the condemnation and consequent death of Jesus. For Jesus had to die for the remission of the human sin (John 19:49-51). Yet He is risen (Luke 24).

It is of us to embrace Salvation 

Jesus has accomplished the mission. If to say, the food is on the dinning table. It is of us to choose to eat or not to. For Barabbas had all the space to embrace salvation just as anybody else is. Because coming to Christ doesn't require to have been what type of a sinner, it is simply to embrace the gospel of Jesus. 

It is of one to choose between light and darkness (John 3:19-21). I only wonder if Barabbas had realized he had equal space. For God is more than ready to give you another chance. That chance is already available to you and me in the person of Jesus Christ.

Focus and Purpose

In the human sense, how would Barabbas have been granted the gift of Salvation? The fact is that Jesus was crucified in place of Barabbas. And that directly implies that Barabbas was to undergo the same fate. For this was an opportunity for Barabbas to be spared. And Barabbas was indeed spared. But did Barabbas realize the crucial symbolism of all this?

For in the human sense, one sinner looks worse than the other. If a human person was to be consulted on who should be saved, our choices would be pretty founded on physical attributes. To Jesus, a gay needs Salvation much as a chicken thief does.

Jesus remained focused and purposeful despite the immensely perturbing conditions He underwent. For He always forgave, despite that it would be quite hard to. He overcame human emotions. Jesus always and readily gives everybody another chance no matter what. Anywhere and everywhere, Jesus displayed He is the Savior.

And upon this, I can boldly say that you may have the powers to say whatever you may wish to say about me, but you will never have the powers to effect it. You can only wish. For only Jesus has my life in His hands. He alone gave His life for me. And if you have given me a hand somewhere, I give thanks to God for you. For you have done so more for God than for me. All glory is to Jesus. Amen.