I Am Barabbas

The setting free of Barabbas is found in all 4 Gospels. We’ll look @ Matthew’s account beginning in verse 15 of chapter 27.

Read Matthew 27:15-26

-show video of I am Barabbas-

Powerful video huh?

Shaye showed me that after he came back from VN.

Gave me chills!

I’d like us to look at two verses in John’s account of the setting free of Barabbas.

John 19:10-11

Then Pilate said to Him, “are you not speaking to me? Do you not know that I have the power to crucify You, and the power to release You?”

11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it has been given you from above. Therefore, the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Such a powerful reminder of who Jesus is!

When I think about Jesus’ words on the cross, and realize He is speaking to me, Barabbas.

Let’s look at Jesus’ words as they are recorded chronologically in the Gospel.

Scripture tells us He was hung on the cross about 9 am, and He hung there for about 6 hours until His death.

During those six hours, He spoke 7 different times, and we see the heart of Jesus!

Sometime between 9am and noon, He spoke His first words on the cross.

Luke 23:34

Then Jesus said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do”.

• Throughout His ministry, Jesus taught forgiveness. In this moment, on the cross, we see Him living out what He taught.

o Stand with me as we honor God while reading a couple of verses on forgiveness:

? Matthew 6:14

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

? Matthew 18:21-22

“Then Peter came to Him and said “Lord how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

22 Then Jesus said to him “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to 70 times 7.”

2nd words found in Luke 23:43

And Jesus said to him “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise”.

Sooo much has been written about this verse.

• He didn’t say the sinners prayer

• He wasn’t baptized

• He didn’t ask forgiveness

• Did he really go to heaven with Jesus “today”?

Here’s what I do know.

Jesus said it and I believe it!

3rd words on the cross

John 19: 26-27

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

We see OT prophesy being fulfilled with Jesus on the Cross, but here we see NT prophesy being fulfilled.

Luke 2:34-35

• 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

For the third time, His words on the cross, were thinking about US-Barabbas!

4th words on the cross

Matthew 27: 46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is,“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

I’ve read a lot about this verse, and if you want to take a deep dive, this is one of those verses!

I find it interesting that Jesus had “cried out in a loud voice” to Lazarus when He said “come out”,

I can only imagine that when He cried out in a loud voice to God, He did it with all the strength He had left in His body. He was 100% human and 100% God.