Reading: Matthew chapter 27 verse 11-26.
The Antonia Fortress was a military barracks built by Herod the Great in Jerusalem:
• He named after Herod's patron Mark Antony.
• And he built it on the site of an earlier Hasmonean (Has-mo-nean) stronghold,
• The fortress was built at the eastern end of the great wall of the city (the second wall),
• On the north-eastern side of the city, near the temple and Pool of Bethesda.
• It is thought that the area where the Antonia Fortress was located;
• Possibly later became the site of the praetorium.
• The praetorium, or Pretorium,
• Is thought to be the place where Jesus was taken to stand before Pilate.
• Now the prison was about 2000 feet away from where Jesus was being tried.
• In one of the cool dark cells of the dungeon of the fortress of Antonia;
• Was a condemned criminal.
• He appears briefly in history and he is our character study this morning.
(1). His name,
His name was Barabbus:
• ‘Bar’ in Aramaic means ‘Son’
• ‘Abbas’ means ‘Father’ (we sometimes sing ‘Abba Father’)
• So his name means “Son of the father”
• It can be interpreted as “Son of the teacher or master”.
• It was a common name in that time,
• And although we don’t know who his father was,
• Perhaps he really was the son of a Rabbi, a teacher;
• And this background gave him his patriotic love for his nation.
• If he was the son of a rabbinic family in Jerusalem.
• He was probably well-educated and well-connected, especially politically.
• His full name was probably Jesus Barabbas,
• Which appears in the Syrian and Armenian versions of Matthew chapter 27.
• A number of scholars, (including William Barclay, D. A. Carson, Robert Gundry, and Klaas Schilder),
• Seem to accept this reading.
(2). His reputation.
• Barabbus was not a person with whom you would want to associate;
• We are told f our things about him in the gospel:
(1). He was a “Notorious prisoner” (Matthew chapter 27 verse 16).
• ‘Notorious’ can means ‘disreputable, dishonourable, tarnished’.
• His reputation alone told you not to mess with this man.
• He had a reputation and as the saying goes,
• "His reputation preceded him."
• The word Notorious’ can also mean ‘famous, popular, and notable’.
• Barabbas was well-known in Jerusalem, and it seems he had a large following.
• Therefore, when Barabbas was given the chance of freedom;
• His fans (& the religious leaders) in the crowd made plenty of noise demanding his release.
(2). He was a “A robber” (John chapter 18 verse 40).
• He was a thief,
• One who not only stole......... but violently stole from others.
• This maybe how he and his gang funded their terrorist operation;
• Although we are not told who he robbed, it may have been both Jew & Roman.
• But Barabbas was willing to take away that which others have worked for,
• With no intention of giving it back.
(3). “Insurrectionist” (Mark chapter 15 verse 7).
• According to Josephus the word used for robber, lestes,
• Refers to members of the nationalist movement called Zealots,
• Who supported themselves by robbery.
• Barabbas may have been a member of that movement.
• The two thieves who were crucified with Jesus Christ;
• Might also have been members of that movement.
• Why do we think that?
• At that time robbery was not a capital offense,
• And yet these two thieves were sentenced to be crucified.
• So we may well conclude that the thieves were also insurrectionists,
• Members of the movement led by Jesus Barabbas,
• Members of the same gang.
(4). He was an. “Murderer” (Mark chapter 15 verse 7).
• In his acts of robbery and insurrection Barabbus was quite prepared to take life;
• He was a murder!
• And while he may appear to be anything good to us;
• To his contempories he may have been a bit of a hero (freedom fighter).
Note:
• Someone might come to the defence of Barabbas and say,
• “He was a patriot!
• The Romans were the occupying oppressors,
• Barabbas and his friends were like the French underground resistance of World War II!
• If he killed a soldier during an act of rebellion against this evil enemy,
• Then he was not a criminal, but a zealot!”
• Remember he was ‘Notorious’ can also mean ‘famous, popular, and notable’.
• Barabbas was well-known in Jerusalem, and it seems he had a large following.
• Political hero or nasty villain you can take your pick!
• One thing we do know he was guilty, he knew it, the crowds, Romans & we knew it!
(3). His arrest:
As you examine the little information we have concerning Barabbas:
• If you were on a jury;
• You would have to say, “Guilty, on all accounts”.
• He appears to have no redeeming qualities.
• Just look at the evidence.
• (1). He was not being held unjustly, or suffering heroically for a good cause.
• (2). He was a rebellious man who deserved the sentence of death for his crimes.
• (3). He was guilty! His sentence was a just one!
• (4). Society would be better off without him.
• But as he sat in that dungeon that morning,
• He was totally unaware that he was about to be a tool in the hand of God.
(4). His contest.
Ill:
• A psychologist once asked a patient, “Do you have trouble making decisions?”
• “Well,” answered the patient, “Yes and no.”
• For Pilot this was one decision he could not avoid making;
• He tried several times by sending Jesus to others to try him, but each time he kept coming back!
Barabbus must have been shocked when he heard the Roman soldiers coming to his jail cell;
• He knew his death was going to happen,
• But not as early as this (hoped for a few more hours).
Ill:
• Look at verse 21 and use your imagination: Imagine you are Barabbas.
• You’re 200 yards away in a prison cell and you hear the crowd shouting your name.
• “Barabbas, Barabbus, we want Barabbus”;
• And then a few minutes later you hear, "Crucify him, crucify him."
• Moments later, a guard shuffles down the hall, keys clanging at his side, toward your cell.
• He opens the door, and says, "Come on, let’s go."
• Question: Where would you assume you’re going?
• Answer: To be crucified, right?
• But the guard takes you not to a place of execution;
• But to a praetorian and you suddenly realise you have a chance to go free!
According to the Gospel accounts:
• It was customary at the feast of the Passover to release to the Jews one prisoner,
• Whoever the people should desire.
• This was an often forgotten tradition,
• But this year Pilate revived it when he realised he could used it for personal gain;
• Ill: For him it was like a magician pulling a rabbit out of the hat;
• It was his bit of magic, a way of escape from this awkward dilemma.
• The custom at the feast of the Passover was to release one prisoner,
• So Pilate had a crafty thought, and he limited the crowds choice to just two men.
• Pilate’s plan was to bring out the most dangerous criminal in his jail.
• And place him alongside Jesus of Nazareth (Who he knew was innocent verse 18).
• He probably felt very confident in his scheme;
• After all no one in their right mind would release the renegade Barabbus back into society.
So Pilot thought he had given them an obvious choice:
• On one hand we have the passive Jesus (Led like a lamb to slaughter);
• And next to him was the untamed, and unrepentant Barabbas.
• The giver of life & the destroyer of life side by side;
• The innocent and the guilty!
• The Law giver and the Law breaker;
• The Prince of peace against a man of violence.
• The man of love against the man of hate.
• The Eternal Creator compared to one of His creatures;
• It must have been a humiliating experience for Jesus.
Pilate’s plan appears to be working:
• He is thinking to himself that this is an all round perfect plan.
• He will be able to release Jesus (who had done nothing wrong),
• And all the time the crowd will think it was their choice;
• And so he also wins favour with the Jewish people for allowing them to choose!
Quote:
• Josephus, the Jewish historian, tells us that Barabbas;
• Didn’t just commit crimes against Romans but against Jews as well.
• He may have sold himself to the people as a political champion;
• But in reality he was a violent criminal who above all else, looked after number 1.
Pilot’s master plan had excluded something from the equation:
• Verse 20: He forgot the power and influence of the chief priests and elders;
• Who persuaded the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas & for the execution of Jesus.
Ill:
• All of us are familiar with what is called the "mob mentality."
• Charles Dickens’ in his book ‘Pickwick Papers’
• Illustrates the power of a crowd;
• When he pens a conversation between Mr Pickwick & a Mr. Snodgrass.
• Mr. Pickwick says; "It’s always best on these occasions to do what the mob [does]."
• "But suppose there are two mobs?" suggested Mr. Snodgrass.
• "Shout with the largest," replied Mr. Pickwick."
• The crowd with the loudest shout was for Barabbas;
• Pilate knows that he is dealing with an irrational mob;
• A crowd so emotionally charged with hate that they would not be sent away peacefully.
• So he opts for the easiest and safest option – he gives in to the crowd!
• He is willing to condemn the innocent;
• And let the guilty go!
(6). His surprise.
• As this day in history began,
• Barabbas could not have imagined or even dreamed of being released?
• He knew that in the Antonia fortress;
• Even the remaining members of his gang were unable to attempt a rescue act.
• I suspect that Barabbas had no plans expect to hopefully see out another day;
• Even if that meant another day in prison.
• At the end of the crowds choice;
• Barabbus was the first man in history to look at the cross of Jesus;
• And to say the words; “He died for me!”
• Not even the disciples had yet realised that!
For Barabbus that was a physical statement;
• For Jesus was literally occupying the cross that he was supposed to be nailed on!
• It was a physical transaction one human being for another.
For you and I the substitutional death of Christ goes far deeper:
• Not just physical, but also spiritual:
• Quote: Isaiah chapter 53.
3 He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows[a] that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
8 Unjustly condemned,
he was led away.[b]
No one cared that he died without descendants,
that his life was cut short in midstream.[c]
But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.
9 He had done no wrong
and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.
10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
