What is your Barabbas,Christian?

By Machelle McDowell

Have you ever gone along with “the crowd” and chose to do something that you knew was wrong? The crowd we are speaking of today did exactly that. Why did the crowd found in Mark 15:13-14 choose to release Barabbas instead of Jesus?

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. He voiced his convictions outloud in Luke 23:14 by stating, “I have found no fault in this man.” But, he had a serious situation on his hands.

The crowd was on the verge of a revolt against him if had stood up for Jesus. He had to choose to either do what he thought was right or what was politically expected of him.

The Romans were accusing Jesus of treason which was a crime that ended in execution. Pilate recognized this whole plot was being manipulated by the chief priests. In Mark 15:11 states, “The chief priests were stirring up the crowd.”

Pilot tried to have Jesus released based on the custom of releasing a prisoner every Passover season, not out of the goodness of his heart, but because of the proof presented before him. Pilate thought they would release Jesus.

With both the crowd and the chief priests and their rogues cheering this on……Pilate’s (Political) hands were tied. He regretfully ordered the scourging to begin which was the onset of the crucifixion process.

The crowd made its choice! The people rejected Jesus and chose Barabbas. Barabbas was well known. Not by his goodness but as a murderer and terrorist.

Such irony in this situation. The crowd chose Barabbas but Jesus chose the crowd, right?

Folks, we are still choosing Barabbas today. Why did the crowd choose to free an evil man and sentence our loving Saviour to be crucified?

Personally, I think it was rooted in “self.” Most decisions we make are based on impressions of what others think of us and what we think of ourselves, which is most of the time too highly.

I’m sure there was somewhat of a fear factor involved that day? The crowd was afraid of what would happen to them if they went against the chief priests. Again, self focused.

What a display of cowardice? How often do we act the same way? We choose to reject Jesus to fulfill our own selfish motives and desires. Sometimes, it’s the simple act of turning the other direction when we know we are in the midst of an ungodly action, deed, or decision but we don’t want to rock the boat or make ourselves look like Jesus freaks and go against the norm. It is much easier to just walk away and be numb. In doing so, we choose Barabbas over Jesus. It is much safer, right? So, we think.

Rejecting Jesus is a dangerous action and bears heavy consequences. There is much to be said in God’s Word about rejecting Christ. These are words for the sinner and the saint.

“The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge: the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”

John 12:48

“But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Matt 10:33

The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you reject me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.

Luke 10:16

It is one thing to reject Christ and His work on the cross as a lost soul; but to know God and carry His spirit within you and deliberately reject who He is and what the Bible says you are in him is unthinkable. Paul say in Romans 2:16 -God judges the secrets of men.

We cannot call ourselves Christians and stand before the cross to only choose Barabbas instead of Christ over and over and think it is acceptable. In essence we are choosing self. We want the cross but not the burden it bears. We want the approval of man more than the accountability of carrying our cross for the Saviour who died for us.

We choose the world and all it has to offer in hopes that Christ continually overlooks our weaknesses and demonstrates grace. This is dangerous territory friends.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world- “The world is passing away along with its desires but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” I John 2:17.

What is your Barabbas? What is it that tempts you to continually reject who you are to Christ?

Take up thy cross and follow me

I heard my Master say

“I gave my life to ransom thee Surrender your all today.”