Jesus and Barabbas

Matthew 27:11-31

          In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Recently I researched statistics regarding the death penalty; and what I found was quite interesting and a bit disturbing.  Since 1900, at least 23 people have been executed that were completely innocent of their charges.  Although it must be acknowledged that some of those cases were not well documented and certain legal safeguards did not exist in the early part of the century, it is reasonable to assume that at least some of the 23 were innocent.  A striking example of this tragic error in one of these cases was evidenced by the deathbed confession of the actual murderer after the accused was executed.

More to the present, since 1973, at least 70 people have been released from death row after evidence of their innocence emerged.  This evidence was frequently based on scientific advancements, such as DNA testing and journalistic research.  Some of the factors that contributed to the 70 people being falsely condemned include overzealous prosecution, willful suppression of evidence, mistaken or perjured testimony, faulty police work, coerced confessions, the defendant’s previous criminal record, inept defense counsel, seemingly conclusive circumstantial evidence, and community pressure for a conviction.

Those are disturbing statistics, and they have been used and abused by many people over the years to advocate for the abolishment of the death penalty.  But capital punishment is not wrong; God’s Word gives the government the obligation to exact such punishment when justice calls for it.  Nevertheless, we agree that it is absolutely horrible to think that innocent people actually have been executed for crimes that someone else has committed.  What a hellish nightmare it would be for a person to know he is innocent, yet despite his denial of the charges and his plea of innocence, he is still condemned to die as a criminal.

Before us tonight is an account much more appalling, much more unjust than the execution story of any innocent man or woman in the history of this world.  It is the account of the perfectly innocent Jesus standing trial before Pontius Pilate.  Here was a man perfectly innocent of all crimes; yet He was condemned to die.  But one of the most amazing things about this account is that Jesus allowed it without any restraint or retaliation.

What was it about Jesus that amazed Pilate?  Well, Pilate certainly was not amazed with Jesus’ appearance.  In fact, Jesus must have looked like a hot mess after His arrest and mock trial.  Neither was Pilate amazed that Jesus had performed miracles, although he had undoubtedly heard rumors about them.  Nor was Pilate so much amazed at what Jesus said, even though Jesus spoke like no other person ever before Him, with power and authority. 

No, the one thing that amazed Pilate about Jesus was the fact that He said nothing at all: “When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked Him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?’  But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge – to the great amazement of the governor” (vv. 12-14).

Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent.  Our text tells us, “For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him” (v.18).  In fact, the Bible goes on to tell us about an extraordinary incident concerning Jesus’ innocence.  Verse 19: “While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: ‘Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of Him.’”  Although we don’t know whether Pilate’s wife was superstitious, the fact remains that the message conveyed to her through her Good Friday nightmare was accurate; and we are not beyond believing that it may even have been of divine origin.  Jesus was innocent; even Pilate’s wife knew that.

To his credit, Pilate did not want to crucify an innocent man.  He even tried to persuade Jesus to give some sort of answer and to defend Himself.  But Jesus gave no answer.  We are even told in John’s Gospel account that Pilate was so frustrated with Jesus for not defending Himself, he finally said to him: “‘Do you refuse to speak to me? . . . Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?’  Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.  Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.’”  John goes on to write, “From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free” (19:10-12).

However, the Bible also tells us that every time Pilate suggested letting Jesus go free, the people would cry out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”  When Pilate asked for a good reason to have Him put to death, he received replies such as, “He claims to be a king, and we have no king but Caesar”; “He claims that he is the Son of God”; “We have found this man subverting our nation.  He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ” (Luke 23:2).  But not even with false accusations mixed with the truth could the mob come up with anything worthy of condemning Jesus to death.  No matter; they weren’t interested in facts or truth – much like today’s media in general.  They were consumed with their need to have Jesus crucified.

Jesus made no defense for Himself.  He did not try to be set free.  Instead, He allowed Himself to be condemned.  He chose to be convicted as a criminal.  He gave Himself willingly to those who falsely accused Him, beat and mocked Him, and ultimately crucified Him on the horrible cross – and all of this while making no defense against His accusers who screamed for His blood.  That is what Jesus had to do in order to save us.  His silence echoed with His wondrous love for us.  Jesus, the silent Lamb of God, became a sinner in our place.  He took the guilty verdict that rightfully was ours.

There is a whole bunch of symbolism in the passion account, especially that it all took place during the Passover with the slaughter of a spotless lamb eaten with bitter herbs and unleavened bread.  But there was also a custom connected with the festival that becomes more than just an interesting sidelight. “Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.  At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.  So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, ‘Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’  For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.  But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.  ‘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 Christ?’ Pilate asked.  They all answered, ‘Crucify Him!’  ‘Why?  What crime has He committed?’ asked Pilate.  But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’” (vv 15-18, 20-23).

Barabbas was a murderer.  He was also an insurrectionist – someone who was a fanatical nationalist, ready to shed blood and perhaps even to die for his cause.  And yet, given the choice between this condemned and clearly guilty criminal and Jesus, the people chose to set Barabbas free and to have Jesus crucified.

In a nutshell, this sums up the relationship between Jesus and the whole sinful world.  We deserve death for the sins we commit.  But instead, Jesus took our place so that we could be set free.  Jesus not only made no defense against His accusers who cried out for His blood, but He also covered their offenses with the very blood for which they cried out.  Jesus stood before Pilate condemned as a criminal.  But far worse than that, Jesus stood before God as a condemned sinner, sentenced to be damned.  Jesus was taking upon Himself the sins of the whole world – not just the sins of Barabbas with whom He had traded places, but also the sins of the bloodthirsty mob that condemned Him, as well as your sins and mine.

Pilate finally surrendered Jesus to the mob. “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd.  ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said.  ‘It is your responsibility!’  All the people answered, ‘Let His blood be on us and on our children!’” (vv24-25).

The peoples’ cynical and heartless remark, intended to be the ultimate insult and condemnation against Jesus, instead becomes a prophetic message that we embrace as our hope and comfort.  Yes, let His blood be on us and on our children!  But not in the way those people intended it.  They meant that they were willing to bear the blame of having put Jesus to death. 

But instead, just the opposite is true.  The blood for which they cried out became the very blood which now covered their guilt, and not theirs only, but ours as well.  Yes, the blood of Jesus not only atoned for the sins of those who cried out for it that day, but His blood was the ransom for their children and for their children’s children and for all generations to come.  His blood paid the debt to God for every last man, woman, and child from every nation under heaven.

“Let His blood be upon us and upon our children.”  If only those unworthy people would have known what they were really asking, they would have made that same request pleading on their knees with their faces to the ground.

Tonight, we come before Him with that same request.  Only this time we embrace with joy the meaning it has for our salvation.  “Let His blood be on us and on our children.”  His blood is for us the certainty that He has washed our sins away.  His blood is the guarantee that our debt has been paid because Jesus died to take the punishment we deserve. 

It is an amazing and astounding truth still to this day, that by Christ’s condemnation we are made free.  By His substitutionary death, we, by God-given faith, have eternal life.  By His punishment, we are made spotless and whole.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.