Church of God, In Truth
BARABBAS OR CHRIST?
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BARABBAS OR CHRIST?
BARABBAS OR CHRIST?
Some of the so-called, Bible scholars that were contacted concerning this question said that the story in the gospels didn't make sense. They said, "Why would the crowd make the decision to call for the release of Barabbas instead of Christ?" They reasoned that the people just hours before, had thronged after Christ as He entered Jerusalem. It was for this reason the Sadducees and Pharisees had to arrest Christ after dark: for fear of the people. The scholars said, "It just didn't add up! Why would the people turn on Christ this way and choose Barabbas, a known criminal to be released instead of Him?"
Let us see if we can find the answer. Not everything is as simple as it seems. To assume that Barabbas was a "common criminal" would be a mistake.
God often uses spiritual examples and Satan always tries to counteract that example; or has a counterfeit one ready. "And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, whom will you that I release unto you? [Jesus] Barabbas or Jesus, which is called Christ?" (Matthew 27:16-17).
"Web Bible Encyclopedia" says the meaning of Barabbas is "son of the father, full name Jesus Barabbas." "The Jewish New Testament" says in verse 15 and 16 of Matthew 27, "It was the governor's custom during a festival to set free one prisoner, whomever the crowd asked for. There was at that time a notorious prisoner being held, named Jeshua [Jesus] Bar-Abba."
Barabbas was a notorious robber whom Pilot proposed to condemn to death instead of Jesus the Christ - whom he wished to release in accordance with Roman custom. "Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber" (John 18:40). [Also see Mark 15:7 and Luke 23:18]. But many Jewish leaders were so bent on the death of Jesus that they demanded that Barabbas [who was one of their own] should be pardoned. "And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, "Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?' For he knew that for envy they had delivered Him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, ‘Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him.' But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, ‘Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?' They said, ‘Barabbas.' Pilate saith unto them, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?' They all said unto him, ‘Let Him be crucified.' And the governor said, ‘Why, what evil hath He done?' But they cried out the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified.' When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.' Then answered all the people, and said, ‘His blood be on us, and on our children.' Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified" (Matthew 27:16-26). The Apostle Peter in his second sermon after Christ's death, told those listening, "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you" (Acts 3:13-14).
The Jewish people were looking for the Messiah to deliver them from the captivity of the Romans. The "Marcon" transcript of the trial states, "Barabbas was a revolutionary, a well-known Rabbi" [Perhaps one of the Sicarii - a group of Jewish religious zealots (terrorists), best known for their last stand against the Romans at Masada!]. It sounds like he may have been an important man. Just like today, the Palestinian's wanted a criminal released from Israel's prison to run for President of Palestine!
Did the Jewish priests stir up the crowd by asking for the release of Barabbas instead of Christ? Did they persuade the people in this, because Barabbas was a revolutionary and they were told he would in fact, be the one to liberate them from the Roman government? "But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus" (Matthew 27:20). It was the High Priests and elders that persuaded the crowd. "For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him for envy. But the chief priests moved [margin: stirred up] the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them" (Mark 15:10- 11). The High Priests stirred up the crowd because they were envious, and they wanted Christ delivered up to be crucified.
Although Jesus Barabbas may or may not have killed anyone, he was still known as a robber or a leader of the rebellion - whom Pilate wished to put to death. What did this man represent? We know that the Jews at that time were expecting a savior - someone to liberate them from Roman captivity. Christ's disciples asked Him if He was, at that time, going to restore the kingdom of God. "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). They had no way of knowing Christ came for a greater cause: to liberate them from sin and not to, at this time, set up His Kingdom. How many, in this day and time would rather choose a counterfeit "Jesus" rather than the true Son of God?
Carlos McGuire
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