Sermon – Seeing Easter Though the Eyes of Barabbas
Luke 23:13-25 New Living Translation
13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. 16 So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”[a] 18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”
23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.”
Introduction: Have you ever thought about Easter through the eyes of Barabbas? His name means son of the father or son of the Rabbi. Barabbas was a well-known sinner who had come to the end of the line. Historians seem to think that he and two of his gang members were arrested together for the crimes against Roman and the Jewish community. He may have begun his journey as an insurrectionist or a freedom fighter. His group may have had noble, patriotic purposes in mind. Yet like most villainies, they evolve into criminals, working for their own gain and notoriety. This scene is put forth by Pilate trying to find a door out of a narrow place. Pilate uses an old almost forgotten Jewish law to secure the release of Jesus. In offering to release a prisoner, Pilate assume people would prefer Jesus over Barabbas. How wrong he was.
Pilate just want this case to go away. He understood the leader’s motive against Jesus. They were jealous and envious of Jesus. Pilate preferred not to deal with Jesus at all. He sent Jesus to Herod, when Herod returned Jesus without charges, Pilate had to deal with it. Finally, he calls for a basin to wash his hands of the matter and turns Jesus over to the Jews to be crucified. Many people would like to wash their hands and not deal with Jesus. We all must answer the question, “What shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ? That is the real question! Not what shall I do about police brutality, violence, hypocrites, or weak disciples and such? What shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?
One can only imagine the shock and awe experienced by Barabbas. He was guilty of every charge. He is on death row awaiting execution, then the surprise come. “You are free to go! Matthew calls Barabbas a notorious prisoner who reputation proceeded him. Mark calls him a murderer. John describes him as a robber. Luke said, he was guilty of sedition and murder. He is the good, bad, and ugly rolled into one. Each of the four gospel writers describes Barabbas to make sure we get a clear picture of this evil man. Barabbas trapped in his prison cell about 2000 feet from public proceeding, probably thought the crowd was calling for his crucifixion immediately. Barabbas could only hear the noise of the crowd. The crowd was shouting his name, “Barabbas, Barabbas!” Then the next shouts he heard crucify him! Crucify him! From what could hear, he thought the whole world had revolted against him and he was about to be instantly crucified. When suddenly, without warning, He is dragged and told “You are free to go!” Free to go? Why? “Someone else is dying in your place today!” “On your way!” Barabbas was a sinner and knew it. He was guilty and knew it. He deserved to be punished and his punishment was just! He understood it. Yet, Barabbas desired a way out, a way to freedom more than anything. If only he could have a second chance. Then it happened. He was the first to benefit from the death of Jesus. The first to discover true freedom, redemption, grace and a second chance. We are like Barabbas, I hope we can see Easter through his eyes.
1. Barabbas like us, was a guilty sinner. Whether we want to admit it or not, Barabbas identifies with us all because there is a little Barabbas in all of us. Maybe we have not murder or stole or caused a riot, but we all have sinned and missed the mark.
Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ro 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Just like Barabbas, we were all bound in a prison of sin, awaiting our punishment, a death sentence was hanging over our head. Yet Then the voice of Jesus comes saying, Matt 11:28-30“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Barabbas pardon was unexpected, unsolicited and without confession. For me I had to acknowledge my sin, repent, and confess to God and ask for forgiveness. When I did, release came to me also. I was free to go! You can be free to go! Satan’s only power is to bind people and blind people about their spiritual condition. Then he tempts them and misguides them to try and find another way out of the prison. Jesus provides a way out!
2. Barabbas like us, deserved punishment. I wonder if he felt anything for his comrades that were not released? I wonder if he felt any compassion towards Jesus dying in his place? The two thieves who were to be executed with Jesus confessed, “We are getting what we deserve, this man is innocent.” There is something within us that cries out for justice as we look on others. We hate to see anyone get away with murder. Barabbas had been found guilty of his crimes and under Jewish Law he deserved to die.
Ge 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The moment Adam and Eve chose to sin against God, a death sentence was put into place. That same death sentence was passed to all mankind. The life intended to be everlasting comes with a price tag called death. No one gets out of it alive. Mankind’s condition and possibilities are described in Romans
.
Ro 5:14-17 “Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”
Barabbas was not a greater sinner than you and me. He may have carried out every passing thought, but are all sinners of the same rank, in need of a savior. We all deserve death, but grace offers freedom. Jesus proclaims If thou wilt believe, all things are possible! You can be free to go, even though you deserve death!
3. Barabbas like us, desired Freedom. Just like every other bound person, there is a desire to be free! As humanity wrestle with violence, addiction, depression and grief, there is desire to be free. We hate the sin that make us mourn as every worldly pleasure turn sour. Every worldly pleasure turns to pain. Even on the cross there came a cry, Lord, “remember me when you come into, thou kingdom.” That cry was a cry of sorrow and regret.
Like Barabbas, and those thieves who found themselves angry with themselves, because of missed opportunities, bad decisions, causing so much pain, in a constant search by never finding the answer to life. They wanted to be free!
Ga 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Notice ,the Scriptures calls us captives and prisoners, held in check by a school master called the Law. We were held captives by Satan, sin, and the lust of the flesh. Paul describes his condition and ours in Romans 7.
Ro 7:18-24 “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[b] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”
All of us desire freedom, release and salvation. All the unrest in the world comes from the pent-up frustrations and unfulfilled desires. Barabbas discovered the solution in Jesus; Paul discovered it in Jesus and we can also discover it in Jesus. Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? The answer comes in Romans 7:25 “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
4. Barabbas, like us Discovered Redemption. Barabbas discovered the benefits of someone taking his place, satisfying his debt, unlocking the door of his cell, removing his chains and being publicly set free. The soldier simply said, “you are free to go! Someone else is dying in your place today!”
Who or What was it that placed Jesus on the Cross? Was it Judas? Was it the Religious Leaders? Was it Pilate? Was it the shouting crowd? Well, none of them and all of them! It was Jesus’ great love! His love great of the Father and the Father’s great love for the world. It was his love for the whole world! We owed a debt that we could not pay and paid a debt He did not owe. Were you there when they crucified, my Lord? The benefits of redemption are revealed in the types and shadows of the Old Testament. The Sacrificial Lamb was lain, and the escape goat was set free. That day, Barabbas paid no price, offered no gift, yet received every benefit by grace. You and I can receive the benefits of redemption in like manner.
Isaiah 55:1-3 “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! 2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. 3 “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.”
2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Elvina Hall captured this idea in her Jesus Paid It which says,
“All I hear the savior say, Thy strength indeed is small; Child of weakness watch and pray, Find in me thine all in all’
Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and thine alone, Came and changed the lepers spots; And it melt the heart of stone.
And when before the throne, I stand in him complete; Jesus died my soul to save, My lips shall still repeat.
Jesus paid it all, All to him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow! Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe, Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow!
What Barabbas discovered that day was Grace! How amazing God’s grace really is. That today, it came suddenly, unexpectedly, leaving Barabbas in shock and awe! When we see Easter through his eyes, we discover all have sin, all need to save, all can be save and all can be saved to the uttermost! We discover someone else has died in our place. Through faith in Him, you can go free! You are free to go! You are free to walk out of sin, addiction, bondage, and imprisonment. Your bruises can be healed, your weaknesses can be strengthened. You are free to go into a new future. I wonder how Barabbas used his newfound freedom. How are you using your freedom? Are you walking in a new future, a new life, to a new destiny? If not, you can start today!
