Sunday, 3/17/2024

JOURNEY TO THE CROSS

BARABBAS

Luke 23:13-19 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people. But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. 15 Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.” 18 Then they all cried out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

1 Peter 2:22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 

We need a lamb ‘without blemish’ (1 Pet. 1:19).

Though Jesus seems mostly passive during these trials, He is the judge. 

Jesus places His Jewish interrogators under judgment. They are the hardened and hopeless. 

Jesus comes before Herod Antipas (23:8–12) and both exposes and disappoints the curious and frivolous. 

It was not faith but fascination that drove Herod. 

Then in Pilate Jesus faces the convinced yet compromised 

We ourselves may know what it is to hold the truth yet face immense pressure to let go of it. 

Barabbas: The Guilty

People then, like today, didn’t want to give up their pride and power, so they chose Barabbas.

We’re supposed to see and should see in ourselves that we are Barabbas. 

The gospel! He died for me. Not just for me, he died instead of me. 

Luke 23:23-25 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices won out. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will. 

He, Jesus, pled guilty to my sin. And Barabbas sin. And your sin. And he died in our place. 

We are Barabbas!