The story of Barrabas and the crucifixion of Jesus is rich in symbolism. Barrabas was the guilty, murderous, rebel insurrectionist slated to die on the cross for his crimes the Eve before Passover. Instead, the righteous and sinless Jesus took his place.

The Jewish leaders had already brought charges against Jesus for blasphemy after Jesus admitted that He was the Son of God (Matthew 26:63-64). They then twisted their accusations to say that Jesus had challenged the kingship of Ceasar and was, therefore, deserving of death. Pontius Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy (Mathew 27:18). Pilate was trying to find a way to set Jesus free, particularly after his wife sent him an urgent message that her dreams had been tormented that night and that Pilate should immediately let Jesus go (Matthew 27:19).

Perhaps Pontius Pilate thought that by invoking an old Jewish tradition, he might succeed in setting Jesus free. In Leviticus 16:7-22, the Bible tells us that each year a high priest would perform the ceremony of the scapegoat. Two goats were brought to the priest. Lots were cast to determine which goat would be sacrificed as a sin offering and the other set free into the wilderness to symbolize atonement. The high priest would lay his hands on the scapegoat, confessing the sins of the nation, so that the goat would symbolically carry away the sins of the people into the wilderness.

Surely, given the choice between the notorious criminal Barrabas and Jesus, the crowd would want Jesus released. After all, less than a week before, Cesar had heard of the triumphant entry Jesus made into Jerusalem to shouts of Hosanna and blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord (Matthew 21:1-11). But the crowd had somehow turned on Jesus and were now in a frenzy of anger and insults, urged on by the Jewish leadership (Matthew 27:20-25).

Interestingly in John 11:48-52, we also learn that when the high priest Caiphas was plotting to kill Jesus, he told the other Jewish leaders that Jesus would be the scapegoat for the nation. And so, Jesus was. Barrabas was set free while Jesus paid the debt owed.

The Bible and history are silent on the fate of Barrabas. Did he resume his rebellious ways or was he transformed by the sacrifice that Jesus made when He took upon Himself the death that rightfully belonged to Barrabas?

This Easter Sunday we each must answer that same question. The truth is that I am Barrabas. You are Barrabas. We are all sinners (1 John 1:8), deserving death. As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus today, we have the choice to be transformed by His sacrifice or return to our lawless ways.

I pray that you choose Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). A very happy Easter to you and yours.

***

But He was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on Him
    the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,
    yet He never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
    And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
    He did not open His mouth.
Unjustly condemned, He was led away.
No one cared that He died without descendants,
    that His life was cut short in midstream.
But He was struck down
    for the rebellion of my people.
He had done no wrong
    and had never deceived anyone.
But He was buried like a criminal;
    he was put in a rich man’s grave.

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him
    and cause Him grief.
Yet when His life is made an offering for sin,
    He will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
    and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in His hands.
When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish,
    He will be satisfied.
And because of His experience,
    my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
    for He will bear all their sins.
I will give Him the honors of a victorious soldier,
    because He exposed Himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
    He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

(Isaiah 53:5-12 NLT)