When Jesus was brought before Pilate, Pilate found Him innocent. The chief priests and crowd insisted that Jesus needed to be charged. At that point Pilate learned that Jesus actually fell under Herod's jurisdiction so he sent Him to Herod. Herod must have not found any basis to charge Him either (I think Herod was a bit of a wuss to be honest), so he ridiculed Jesus and sent Him back. Again Jesus is before Pilate and after conversation with Jesus, Pilate goes out again to the Jews and says "I find no basis for a charge against him." In fact, he tells the crowd this multiple times. Pilate actually ends up trying to free Jesus (John 19:12.) However, the Jewish leaders keep pressuring Pilate to crucify Jesus and release Barabbas. So eventually Pilate gave into their demands.
Truth be told, I am Pilate.
I am a coward who doesn't always stand up for the one who I know is innocent. It's hard to stand up for God when everyone else is declaring Him guilty. And sometimes, I stay silent. Sometimes I sit back and leave the decision to the crowd. I give in to the pressure.
It's easy to look at the crowd and think you never would have been part of it. To think that, in that moment, you would've been the voice cutting through the crowd declaring "NO! Set Jesus free!"
Why do you think the people wanted Barabbas to be free? He was found guilty of murder and rebellion. Jesus was found innocent again and again. Personally, I think the crowd made the easy choice. How righteous must they have felt that they were so kind as to let a serial murderer go free? How much harder would it be to admit that Jesus was who He claimed to be? In fact, we choose Barabbas every day in our lives. We would rather gloat about freeing the prisoners than take to heart who Jesus really is and letting that change us. We don't want to change, not really. We don't want to live in the significance of that moment because it's hard, it takes work. It's uncomfortable. Most days it's easier to just pardon the guilty. Because we're the guilty.
Truth be told, I'm that crowd.
I forget who Jesus says He is. I look at the prisoners, willing to pardon their crimes, willing to give them a second chance. Then I look at God and think... well, He didn't make this happen. He didn't stop this from occurring. I forget He is good. I refuse to let who He is determine who I am. I choose Barrabas.
It's easy to look at the Barrabas and condemn him. He was this terrible criminal. Sometimes we scoff and think of how much better we are than him.
More than likely Barabbas' first name was Jesus. In Hebrew, Barabbas translates to "son of the father."
Okay, wait what? In Matthew 27:17, Pilate asks, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" So essentially Pilate is saying "Do you want me to release Jesus, son of the father or Jesus, son of the Father who is called the Messiah?"
How crazy is that? I think it's an important distinction. There is a complete parallel here. Not only with the names, but Barabbas was found guilty of rebellion. That is exactly what Jesus was found innocent of. Multiple times. Jesus is literally taking Barabbas' place, stride for stride.
Truth be told, I am Barrabas...
I am the one who was set free as Jesus hung on the cross. I was found guilty for the very things Jesus was found innocent of. I stood there and watched as Jesus was led off to die. I rejoiced in my freedom, while Jesus wept for my salvation.
I was bound and shackled. He let me go.
He let us go.
So I refuse to live like I'm a victim. I am not a victim. I became victorious when Jesus set me free.
I am free.
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