The Enigmatic Figure of Barabbas: The Man Freed Instead of Jesus
Among the multitude of characters who converged upon the tragic scene of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, one figure stands in stark, unsettling contrast: Barabbas. His brief, yet profoundly significant, appearance in the Gospel narratives offers a vivid and unsettling illustration of human depravity, divine justice, and the boundless grace of God. He was a man of violence, a criminal deserving of death, yet he became an unwitting participant in the greatest act of substitutionary atonement known to mankind. The King James Version of the Bible presents Barabbas not merely as a historical footnote, but as a living parable, a mirror reflecting the spiritual condition of all humanity, and the glorious provision made for our salvation.
The Identity of Barabbas: A Man of Violence and Rebellion
The Gospel accounts provide a consistent, albeit brief, description of Barabbas, painting a picture of a dangerous individual. Matthew refers to him as a "notable prisoner," implying his notoriety and the seriousness of his crimes.
And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
Mark and Luke elaborate further, revealing the specific nature of his transgressions. He was not merely a common thief, but a man involved in sedition and murder.
And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
Luke's account corroborates this:
(For a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, he was cast into prison.)
John adds another layer, identifying him as "a robber," which in the context of the time, could imply a revolutionary or brigand involved in violent acts against the Roman authorities or the Jewish establishment. Thus, Barabbas was not just a petty criminal; he was a revolutionary, a murderer, and a robber, imprisoned for heinous acts committed during an insurrection. He was a man justly condemned, facing the ultimate penalty of Roman law.
The Custom of Release: A Passover Tradition
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, found himself in a precarious position concerning Jesus. He recognized Jesus' innocence, as stated in Luke 23:4: "I find no fault in this man." Yet, he was pressured by the chief priests and elders who had delivered Jesus to him out of envy (Matthew 27:18). In an attempt to appease the crowd and release Jesus, Pilate invoked a peculiar Passover custom. The Gospels record that it was the governor's practice to release a prisoner of the people's choosing at the feast.
Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
This custom, perhaps an act of goodwill by the Roman authorities during a significant Jewish festival, provided Pilate with what he hoped would be a way out of his dilemma. He presented the crowd with a choice between two diametrically opposed figures: Jesus, whom he correctly perceived as innocent, and Barabbas, a known and violent criminal. Pilate likely believed the crowd would choose the innocent man over the notorious insurrectionist, thereby absolving him of responsibility for Jesus' condemnation.
The Unfathomable Choice: "Not This Man, But Barabbas!"
Pilate's strategy, however, backfired spectacularly. He put the choice plainly before the multitude:
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?
The chief priests and elders, ever manipulative, "persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus" (Matthew 27:20). The crowd, swayed by their religious leaders and perhaps stirred by nationalistic fervor against Rome, made their shocking demand clear.
But they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
And again, as Pilate pressed them:
They cried out again, saying, Crucify him.
The full weight of their choice is captured in John's Gospel:
Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
The crowd chose a murderer and insurrectionist over the Son of God, the Messiah, the innocent Lamb. This choice was not merely a legal decision; it was a profound spiritual rejection of light for darkness, of life for death, of righteousness for wickedness. It underscored the spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of those who clamored for Jesus' blood, fulfilling prophecies of His rejection by His own people.
Theological Implications: A Substitute for Sinners
The release of Barabbas in exchange for Jesus is one of the most poignant and powerful illustrations of the Gospel message. Barabbas, a man justly condemned to die for his crimes, represents every sinner. He was guilty, deserving of the cross. Jesus, on the other hand, was innocent, "who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (1 Peter 2:22). Yet, the innocent one was condemned, and the guilty one was set free. This is the heart of substitutionary atonement.
Barabbas' freedom is a vivid picture of the grace extended to humanity through Christ's sacrifice. Just as Barabbas was released from the penalty of death he deserved, so too are believers released from the penalty of sin through faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus took Barabbas' place, bearing the punishment that was rightfully his. This divine exchange is the foundation of Christian salvation:
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.
And again, the profound depth of God's love is revealed:
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Barabbas received an undeserved pardon, a grace he did not earn. He walked free because another, innocent Man, took his place on the path to Golgotha. His story is a living sermon on the principle that "the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Barabbas: A Mirror to Our Own Souls
The narrative of Barabbas is not merely a historical account; it is a profound spiritual allegory for every individual. Each of us, by nature, stands condemned before a holy God, just as Barabbas stood condemned before Pilate. We are all "transgressors from the womb," having "all sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Isaiah 48:8, Romans 3:23). Our sins, whether acts of rebellion or omissions of righteousness, have earned us the penalty of spiritual death.
Like Barabbas, we are deserving of judgment. But God, in His infinite mercy, has offered us a choice, though not one we are asked to make. He has already made the choice for us through Christ. He has provided the innocent substitute, Jesus, who willingly took our place on the cross. The question for each person is whether they will accept this divine exchange, acknowledging their own spiritual Barabbas-like state and embracing the freedom offered through Christ's sacrifice. The choice made by the crowd that day – rejecting the Saviour for a criminal – serves as a stark warning against rejecting God's provision for salvation.
The story compels us to reflect on our own spiritual standing. Have we recognized our need for a substitute? Have we accepted the glorious truth that Christ died for us, the ungodly, that we might be justified by His blood? Barabbas’s release is a powerful reminder that our salvation is not earned by works, but is a free gift of God's grace, received by faith.
Conclusion: The Enduring Message of Barabbas
Barabbas, the man freed instead of Jesus, stands as a perpetually relevant figure in Christian theology. His story, though brief, encapsulates the core message of the Gospel: humanity's condemnation due to sin, and God's merciful provision of a perfect substitute in Jesus Christ. The KJV accounts highlight the stark contrast between the guilty sinner and the innocent Saviour, underscoring the profound truth that Christ took our place, bearing the full wrath of God against sin, so that we might receive the gift of eternal life.
The events surrounding Barabbas' release are a timeless testament to the unfathomable love of God, who "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all" (Romans 8:32). It reminds us that our freedom from sin's bondage and eternal death comes at an immeasurable cost – the life of the Son of God. May the story of Barabbas forever impress upon our hearts the depth of our own sinfulness and the glorious, undeserved grace extended to us through the Lord Jesus Christ, our substitute, who died that we might live.