Matt. 27:21-22 - Barabbas? That's Me!

Matthew 27:21-22: "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor.
"Barabbas," they answered. “ 
"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" Pilate asked.
They all answered, "Crucify him!"

He had been a true zealot when it came to the nation of Israel -- Barabbas loved his nation!

He was irked by the very fact that Rome had placed a heavy yoke around the neck of the nation of Israel. But -- his desire to press hard for what he thought was right had gotten him to where he was:  cold -- lonely -- hungry -- and waiting for the executioner to come for him.

Barabbas had a good start in life.  His name suggests that his father had probably been a Rabbi, so he knew about the religious aristocracy -- and had a firm understanding of the tradition of the Law. But, like many -- even today -- his desire to be righteous had blended social concerns with spiritual concerns.

As a “Zealot,” the Roman Government had him in their cross-hairs -- making him a man on the run -- forcing him to do brutal things to survive -- causing him to become a hardened criminal, and not just a rebel against the government -- committing robbery, battery -- and eventually -- MURDER!

Can you imagine what was going through Barabbas’ mind when he finally heard the guard coming down the corridor to his cell? The anxiety he had when he heard the keys rattling as the jailer unlocked the door… The magnitude of his fear and dread when he heard the lead jailer say… 

“You are free to go.”

Later that day, Barabbas was surely among those who watched Jesus die. Undoubtedly, as he watched, one thing he knew completely -- the one on the center cross was dying in his place.

He knew  that the spikes that were driven through Jesus’ hands were his spikes…  He knew in a very personal way that Jesus of Nazareth was dying in his place.

Matthew 26:16 indicates that Barabbas was also named "Jesus," but there’s another interesting thing about Barabbas’ name -- it is a compound word combining “Bar,” meaning “son of” -- and “Abba,” meaning “Father.” His name literally means “son of the Father.”

Think about that…

The "Jesus" whose name meant “the son of the father” was replaced by -- the "Jesus" who was the true Son of the Father.

You and I stand at the foot of the cross -- exactly where Barabbas stood.

Like Barabbas, the only hope you and I have is in the fact that another died in our place!

Though it is WE who are guilty -- it was JESUS who died in our place -- that we might have the forgiveness of our sins and live eternally with God and the redeemed in heaven.

Galatians 2:20:  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Luke 23:39-43 - Confession Is Vital

Luke 23:39-43:
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Enduring the pain of his own crucifixion, and knowing his life was speeding to an end -- this criminal understood his place in the big picture. The lifestyle he led, and the actions he had taken, had brought a ripe harvest of pain, suffering, and death.

He knew he deserved it, but Christ did not! And -- when he heard his fellow criminal insulting Christ, he became indignant and told him to stop.

He understood justice. Seeing this righteous man hang on the cross next to his, and suffer the same punishment as his own, was not justice -- it was just wrong!

He said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

He had faith in Christ -- and was willing, even as he hung on his own cross -- to make it be known.

And, Jesus replied, "Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

And -- there it was -- the basis of our salvation:

Luke 12:8:  "I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God."

A little over a month later, on the Day of Pentecost, to be exact, Christ's kingdom -- His church -- was established. Luke's Book of Acts tells of its early history and its rapid growth. This principle of confession and action of a believer's faith is a major theme seen played out over and over . . .

The Jews on that Day of Pentecost -- the eunuch from Ethiopia -- Lydia, the seller of purple -- Cornelius, and his household -- even Saul of Tarsus (later, the Apostle Paul) -- all confessed and acted on their belief in Christ.

This faith in Christ is a vital part of our salvation, as Paul wrote to the followers in the City of Galatia:  "Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."  (Galatians 3:23-29)

Confess your faith in Christ, and act on it!  Clothe yourselves in Christ!