WHO IS BARABBAS?

Let me ask you a question. Who is Barabbas? To the angry mob, he was just a criminal – but he could be released. It was, after all, the Passover festival. 

The Passover was a celebration of the time when God had brought His people out of slavery in Egypt. Now, over a millennium later, God’s people were once again subjugated to a foreign power, the Romans. And there was a tradition, whereby the Roman Governor at the Passover festival would release one criminal to the people. 

This year, Barabbas was the man. Bar Abba, son of the father, one of God’s children. 

And in that name lies a shocking truth about you, me and Barabbas. You see, the truth is that you and I are Barabbas.

The whole point of creation was for us to have a relationship with God, and yet, in our free will, we rejected Him. When we did that, we missed the point of life and that’s the definition of sin.

The truth is that we’re all guilty of turning away from God … and the wages of sin is death. 

That’s justice.

So how does God satisfy both the demands of His justice and the desires of His love for sinners like you and me? What is He to do? It turns out that there’s only one thing to do: 

“… the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) 

“… but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9)

The only way to reconcile love and justice was to let Jesus die a substitutionary death for you and me, as He did for Barabbas.

That’s the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s the power of love. That’s the power of God’s grace and mercy: that He would send His beloved Son to suffer and die, that you may go free. Just like Barabbas. 

When you believe in Jesus, you have the forgiveness that Jesus purchased – the door is flung open to a deep relationship with God and you have eternal life. That’s the message of Easter.

LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS 

• When you read the story of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, how much of yourself do you see in Barabbas? How does that recognition make you feel?
• As this shocking truth settles into your heart, how do you think your approach to Easter might grow and change? What about your approach to your day-to-day life?
• How can you share this truth with the people around you, your friends, family, neighbors and workmates? Ask God to guide you and give you opportunities.
• Spend some time in prayer. Consider this: Lord Jesus, thank you for going to that cross for me. Lead me forward to serve you in joy and in sacrifice, with the power of the cross and the life of the empty tomb in my heart.

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