Give us Barabbas

The man named Barabbas was no accidental coincidence, his name was {Βαραββᾶς, Βαραββα, ὁ (from בַּר son, and אַבָּא father, hence, son of a father} which includes all of us. Every human son/daughter of a father was set free of the curse of sin by the death/burial/resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the ultimate Son of the ultimate Father. The murderous terrorist, who deserved to die, went free and the harmless, undefiled, free-from-sin, lamb of God was sacrificed in his place.

Please read this account woven together from the four eyewitnesses in the gospels and go free with Barabbas since Jesus Christ has finished the work, has paid the price, has died for your sins.

Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people. He told them, “You brought me this man as someone who turns the people against the government. I’ve questioned him in front of you and haven’t found this man guilty of the crimes of which you accuse him. Neither could Herod. So he sent this man back to us. This man hasn’t done anything to deserve the death penalty. So I’m going to have him whipped and set free.” (Luke 23:13-17)

You have a custom that I should free one person for you at Passover. Would you like me to free the king of the Jews for you?” (John 18:39)

At every Passover festival, Pilate would free one prisoner whom the people asked for. There was a man named Barabbas in prison. He was with some rebels who had committed murder during a riot. The crowd asked Pilate to do for them what he always did. Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to free the king of the Jews for you?” Pilate knew that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous. The chief priests stirred up the crowd so that Pilate would free Barabbas for them instead. (Mark 15:6-11)

But the chief priests and leaders persuaded the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to free for you?” They said, “Barabbas.” Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?” “He should be crucified!” they all said. Pilate asked, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they began to shout loudly, “He should be crucified!” (Matthew 27:20-23)

So Pilate again asked them, “Then what should I do with the king of the Jews?” “Crucify him!” they shouted back. Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!” Pilate wanted to satisfy the people, so he freed Barabbas for them. But he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified. (Mark 15:12-15)

A third time Pilate spoke to them. He asked, “Why? What has he done wrong? I haven’t found this man deserving of the death penalty. So I’m going to have him whipped and set free.” But the crowd pressured Pilate. They shouted that Jesus had to be crucified, and they finally won. Pilate decided to give in to their demand. He freed Barabbas, who had been put in prison for rioting and murdering, because that’s what they wanted. But he let them do what they wanted to Jesus. (Luke 23:22-25)

Then Pilate had Jesus taken away and whipped. The soldiers twisted some thorny branches into a crown, placed it on his head, and put a purple cape on him. They went up to him, said, “Long live the king of the Jews!” and slapped his face. Pilate went outside again and told the Jews, “I’m bringing him out to you to let you know that I don’t find this man guilty of anything.” Jesus went outside. He was wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cape. Pilate said to the Jews, “Look, here’s the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw Jesus, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate told them, “You take him and crucify him. I don’t find this man guilty of anything.” The Jews answered Pilate, “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.” (John 19:1-7)

When Pilate heard them say that, he became more afraid than ever. He went into the palace again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus didn’t answer him. So Pilate said to Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer me? Don’t you know that I have the authority to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered Pilate, “You wouldn’t have any authority over me if it hadn’t been given to you from above. That’s why the man who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” When Pilate heard what Jesus said, he wanted to free him. But the Jews shouted, “If you free this man, you’re not a friend of the emperor. Anyone who claims to be a king is defying the emperor.” (John 19:8-12)

When Pilate heard what they said, he took Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s seat in a place called Stone Pavement. (In Hebrew it is called [Gabbatha].) The time was about six o’clock in the morning on the Friday of the Passover festival. Pilate said to the Jews, “Look, here’s your king!” Then the Jews shouted, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Should I crucify your king?” The chief priests responded, “The emperor is the only king we have!” (John 19:13-15)

Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took Jesus. (John 19:16)