Journey to the Resurrection
Pilot and Barabbas
March 29, 2020 Morning Service
Easter 2020 Series
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: Jesus chose to die for us.
Focus Passage: Matthew 27:11-26
Supplemental Passage: So Pilate *said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, "If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar." (John 19:10-12)
I. The Charge
a. Jesus had been charged with a very serious crime, claiming to be a king
b. There is no way that Pilate could take this lightly. It was a charge of sedition.
c. He felt that it was a trumped-up charge; that it was because of jealousy the Jews had made it.
d. He asked Jesus, “well, ARE you the king of the Jews? Jesus replied, but didn’t answer anything else
e. Pilate marveled at the resolve of Jesus
II. The Offer
a. Pilate intended to release Jesus but was afraid of the Jews
b. He wanted the Jews to see the absurdity of their demands
c. He offered to release Barabbas, a murderer and insurrectionist
d. The people knew he was a bad character; it was a choice between a murderer and someone who loved
e. Pilate’s wife slipped him a note to say “leave Jesus alone”
f. Pilate was taken aback when the people chose Barabbas
III. The Results
a. Pilate washed his hands saying, “I’m not responsible. You shed His blood.” By doing so, he was, in effect, responsible for what happened to Jesus.
b. The people responded, “His blood be on us and our children!”
i. The complete destruction of Jerusalem, the Jewish theocracy, and 1800 years of exile and persecution bear witness to the reality of the vengeance foolishly invoked.
c. Barabbas, in a way, became the first person set free because of Jesus’ death
d. We don’t know what happened to Barabbas after this event
Application/Invitation: Jesus intentionally did not defend Himself. He knew He must die. And die He did. Similar to Barabbas, we, too, can be freed because of what Jesus did. However, our freedom is not temporary like Barabbas. Jesus offers eternal life to those who put their faith in Him. The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” In response to being forgiven, we are expected to repent of our sins and to be baptized. Let the blood of Jesus fall on you, not for condemnation, but for forgiveness!
