Sinners All


Luke 23:17-25
17 Now he [Pilate] was obliged to release one man to them at the festival. 18 But they all cried out together, “Away with [execute] this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

While the story of Jesus’ Passion needs to remain focused on Him, the other players in the drama provide details and further our understanding of our salvation. In today’s reading we find Pontius Pilate and the criminal, Barabbas. At this point, Jesus is remaining completely silent as He watches these people play out their parts in His redemption story. By now, Jesus has been beaten and abused, humiliated, mocked, shuffled from court to court, and screamed at by the crowd. While Pilate knows full well that Jesus is most certainly not deserving of death, he will give the people what they want.

The name Barabbas mean “son of the father”. Here, the Son of God, Son of Man is watching as His life is traded for “the son of the father.” Barabbas is an insurrectionist. He has led rebellions against the Romans, one of the charges Jesus is accused of, and in the course of those insurrections, Barabbas has murdered someone (or possibly many). Three times Pilate tries to get the people to let Jesus go free and three times he fails. Jesus will go to the cross, just as He knew He must.

Both Pilate and Barabbas are incredibly interesting and one cannot help but wonder what happened to them after they shared the world stage with Jesus. Did either of them come to know Jesus as their Savior? We really don’t know. Tradition is filled with stories about how they did learn to follow Jesus but all of that is pure speculation. The text remains silent, so we must admit that all we have is conjecture. Barabbas’ story is one of miracles. He was slated for death – probably the same death that Jesus ultimately suffered. But Barabbas is spared and one hopes that he was forever changed in that new freedom.

While our stories may not be this dramatic they are just as miraculous. We too were slated for death – eternal death – because of our sins. We too are law breakers and insurrectionists. But Jesus’ death was for us. While He silently pours out His blood for us our salvation takes place and we are forgiven all of that sin. Barabbas might have been a murderer but we are no better and just as desperate for a Savior. I am grateful every single day that Jesus provided that miracle and that I am forgiven.

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