Barabbas

When someone writes a book there are things that are included and things left out. That's true if the book you are writing is a novel, a science text or a bit of history. There are things that have to be left out, or the point of the book would be lost in the overflow of information. The decision about what is included and what is left out depends on the author's goals and audience. So, when you are reading something it is, at times, good to ask, 'Why is this part included?' That's especially true when you are reading the Bible. You've noticed that there are differences between the four Gospels. The different authors included some things and left out others. And they didn't always agree on what to include or exclude. They made those decisions based on different goals and different audiences. This morning we're going to take a look at something from John's Gospel and ask the question, 'Why is this part included?' This morning we’re going to look at Barabbas. Listen.

After Pilate had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Why is this included? Clearly, it is not necessary. John could have written about the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus without mentioning it, and it all would have made perfect sense. But here it is. Why? What was John thinking about when he decided to include it?

Let's start by considering who this fellow Barabbas was. John tells us that he was a robber. That word can also be translated as 'insurrectionist' or 'revolutionary'. Either way, it's not good. The other Gospels fill this in so that we know that part of his thieving or revolutionary ways included being a murderer. So, here is this fellow who lived on the wrong side of the law, who was captured and who was waiting for what would happen next. And what would happen next would be death, a very painful death. Justice required that he be punished, and that is exactly what was going to happen. Except it didn't.

Why? That's where Jesus comes in. He was completely innocent, and not just when it came to God's Law. He was a good, upstanding citizen. More than once He challenged people to prove that He was guilty of something. No takers. Even Pilate said that he could find no guilt in Him. According to justice, since Jesus was innocent He should go free. Except He didn't. Jesus, the innocent, suffered justice's punishment instead of Barabbas, in the place of Barabbas. The innocent was condemned and the guilty went free.

And that answers our question, 'Why is this part here?' John is giving us a picture. It's a picture of what Jesus was doing. The guilty go free because the innocent was condemned. But I'm no longer talking about Barabbas. I'm talking about you. John was picturing for us what the Cross was about. The guilty go free because the innocent was condemned. Put yourself in the picture. You belong in the picture. You are the guilty one who goes free because the innocent one was condemned. 

But someone might object. 'The picture doesn't actually fit me all that well. I know it sounds terrible to say, but I'm not as bad as Barabbas was. I'm no revolutionary. And I certainly haven't murdered anyone. I don't belong in that picture.' Okay, let's compare this objector with Barabbas. If an honest criminal court judge were to make the comparison it's pretty clear that he would say that Barabbas is a much worse person. And the law of the land would back him up. But what if God were the evaluator? Jesus said this,

And that servant who knew his master's will but did not … act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.  But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Everyone in this room knows the will of the Father better than Barabbas did. According to Jesus that's a very big factor in any comparison. Much has been given to us, much more than was given to Barabbas. So, much will be required of us, much more than what will be required of Barabbas. Let me say that differently. Our sins are worse than those of Barabbas, much worse. So, we deserve death – more than Barabbas did. The picture really does fit. Barabbas is just a tame stand-in for each of us.

So, why did I say that? Why did I include it? I included it because I want this next thought to stand out. Though you are fully guilty, worthy of a painful death, you will not be punished. And that's not because God decided to let you slide. Jesus, the innocent, suffered justice's punishment instead of you. The guilty went free and the innocent was condemned. Justice has been satisfied. Jesus, the innocent one, has suffered the just punishment you deserve.

There are so many things that come from that. Here's just one. We are not as good as we think that we are. Even now we still sin. And we sin against more grace than most murderers. We are not as good as we think we are. That's an antidote to any pride. But the best response isn't guilt feelings or beating ourselves up. And that's because this next statement is also true. You are more forgiven than you think you are.

How many Christians, for-real Christians, go around with some negative judgment of themselves, whether that's guilt feelings or thinking that they are worthless because of the sin that they just committed or some other foolishness. That is so wrong. Jesus, the innocent one, has taken your place. You get to go free. And it's not just some petty Roman governor who has decided to let you go. It is the Judge of the universe who has declared you innocent of all charges. He deals with you as an innocent person. You don't even have a record of wrongdoings. It's been erased. Innocent.

So, should a Christian ever be down on himself because he's such a bad person? I really don't think so. Why should he? The Father doesn't think he's a bad person. He sees every Christian as innocent as Jesus is. And yes, that's still true right after you've done that same awful sin again. Don't beat yourself up over that sin. Just repent of it. It's the Gospel. Believe it.

What are some signs that you are believing it? Here's one: confidence. And one important place that confidence shows is in how you view your life. If the God who runs this universe is the Judge who has declared you innocent, isn't He obligated to treat you as innocent? Doesn't justice demand that He do that? The basis of that confidence is a conscience that believes, 'I have been declared innocent. I am innocent in God's eyes'.

Another sign that you are believing this: joy. And here I'm talking about a happy joy, an optimistic spirit that smiles at the future. To be sure, there are times for tears. But there are lots more times for some serious laughter. Life is good! God treats me as someone who is innocent. He treats me well. And He promises me that it's even going to be better one of these days. Again, it's the Gospel. Believe it.

Now, there is one thing that John's picture of Barabbas does not include but that I want to mention. So, how did Barabbas respond to what happened, to his going free? What did he think about Jesus or himself after all of this? We don't know. He never actually shows up in the story. But it's good and right to ask the question, 'How should you respond to what has happened, to your going free?' Here are a couple of popular options. One is to feel bad that Jesus had to do what He did for your sake. 'If only I were a good person, He wouldn't have had to have suffered like He did. What a terrible person I am to have put Him through that.' Lots of people opt for this. I must say that I have never found an apostle telling the saints to do that. It's never in anything Jesus said either. So, I don't know where it comes from. But I have to say that it's a lousy choice. Jesus doesn't want you to feel bad. Another popular option is the 'I-have-to-pay-Him-back' syndrome. And the way to pay Him back is to become a superChristian. Well, good luck with that. For one thing, do you really think that you can become a superChristian, whatever that is? And when these folk fail to achieve that goal, boy is it dark in their souls. 'What kind of Christian am I to fail to pay Him back for what He has done?' Again, Jesus never talks about getting paid back. And that's a good thing because you could never afford to pay that bill.

So, what's a good response? When someone becomes a Christian, along with being declared innocent, being freed from the penalty of sin, he is also freed from the power of sin. Or to say that differently, a Christian can do what no unbeliever can do. He can love; honest to goodness, selfless love. That, after all, is why we were created, to love God and neighbor. So, do you want to know a good response to what Jesus has done for you? Love. Jesus has modelled what that looks like. He has also given us the Spirit to guide us to do that better and better. You want to respond well to what Jesus has done? Good. Love the people around you. That's a good start.

So, what have I done this morning? I've reminded you of the Gospel. And I've urged you to believe it even in the hidden recesses of your life. Jesus has come. The innocent one has suffered in the place of the guilty. Justice is satisfied. You are now declared as innocent as Jesus Himself. So why not live like it?