Sscripture reading: Matthew 27:15–26

For Me

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

By all accounts, Barabbas was a bad dude! The New Testament calls him a “notorious” prisoner (Matthew 27:16). As we compare the passages where he is mentioned, we learn that Barabbas (whose name means “Son of the Father”) was a murderer (Luke 23:19) and a revolutionary intent on overthrowing the government (Mark 15:7). Today we would call him a terrorist. It would be difficult to find a man in the Bible more violent and wicked than Barabbas.

What a dramatic moment it must have been when Pilate brought out the two prisoners, Jesus and Barabbas, and asked the crowd, Whom do you want me to release for you? (Matthew 27:17). What choice could have possibly been more obvious? Putting a wild-eyed terrorist back onto the streets or letting Jesus go free to perform more acts of love and mercy? Hmmmm. Nothing reveals the twisted wickedness of human hearts more than the choice that was made that day in Jerusalem: Give us Barabbas! We want Barabbas! Crucify Jesus! The voices of the crowd prevailed that day, and Pilate released a man who deserved to die and condemned a man who didn’t. The murderous thug was put back on the streets, and the spotless Lamb of God was executed.

I wish we knew the rest of the story. Did Barabbas return to a life of terrorism and murder? Or did Jesus’ death in his place bring a transformation that caused him to become a Christian? Can you imagine what kind of evangelist Barabbas (the Son of the Father) would have been? We simply don’t know. The Bible is silent. But we can easily imagine that for the rest of his life Barabbas was daily overcome by the sobering reality:

,. Jesus died in my place.
,. He paid the price that my sins deserved.
,. He received the punishment that should have been mine.
,. And because of what he did, I am free.

Systematic theologians through the centuries have labored to define theories of the atonement to try to explain how Jesus’ death on the cross makes salvation possible. Using big words that are hard to understand (propitiation, penal substitution, satisfaction, expiation, etc.) we sometimes read their works and scratch our heads wondering if even they fully understood what they were talking about. But when I look at what happened to Barabbas, I have a picture that enables me absorb the meaning of the cross even if I can’t fully explain it: he died in my place, and by his death I am free.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, And with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned—every one—to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4–6).

There are only two ultimate in options in life: either I pay the penalty for my sins or Jesus does. Can you say “he died in my place” and “by his wounds I am healed”? If not, today would be a good time.

The essence of sin is we human beings substituting ourselves for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for us. —John Stott

point to ponder • If you are a “son/daughter of the Father,” then by definition Jesus died in your place.

prayer focus • Thankfulness that Jesus died in your place; paid the price for your sins; received the punishment that should have been yours; and that because he did those things, you are free.