I Am Barabbas

Charged (15:1-5)

• After being betrayed and beaten throughout the night, Jesus is bound and delivered to Pilate early on Friday morning (15:1).
• As the governor, Pilate’s only concern is if Jesus is a threat to his control or his comfort (15:2-3).
• While Jesus has never been short on words, He is intentionally quiet throughout this entire proceeding (15:4-5).

Condemned (15:6-15)

• To seek favor with the people, Pilate would allow a criminal on death row to go free on the Passover (15:6).
• Barabbas was a guilty murderer whose crime was seeking to rid his life of unwanted authority (15:7).
• Out of all the men that could have been pitted against Jesus that day, Barabbas’ name means “Son of the Father.”
• Pilate’s question is the most appropriate to ask: “Why, what evil has He done?” (15:14).
• The sinner is cleared for salvation while the sinless is condemned for crucifixion (15:15).

Crowned (15:16-20)

• After almost beating him to death, the battalion’s attempt to humiliate him reveal the charges made against him (15:16).
• These Roman soldiers were unknowingly fulfilling Jewish prophecies about the Messiah (15:17-19).
• The righteous Son of the Father is condemned to die so that the rebellious son of the father can be forgiven to live (15:20).
• Jesus never attempted to be freed instead of Barabbas because He came for the purpose of securing freedom for Barabbas.
• Barabbas is a physical representation of a spiritual reality for every one of us.