We Prefer Barabbas

Luke 23:13-25

Even after the Jewish leaders had done everything they could think of to frame Jesus, even hiring false informants and using torture to try to get a false confession, both Pilate and Herod found him innocent on all counts.

“And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)” (Luke 23:13-17)

In an effort to reduce Jewish resentment, the Roman governors had a established a practice of releasing a prisoner every year, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, or Passover week. Desiring to spare Jesus, because he knows him to be innocent, Pilate attempted to employ that custom to get him off. To improve the chances of it working, he gave them a choice between Barabbas and Jesus. His choice was intentional.

Barabbas was known to have murdered or caused the murders of some of his opponents. He also caused riots and had caused the Roman army to declare martial law, enforcing curfews and disrupting daily life. The Jews hated him almost as much as the Romans. Surely, Pilate thought, anyone in their right mind would prefer Jesus, no matter how much they hated him. Matthew 27:15-18 describes his offer and logic.

“Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.”

Can you imagine Pilate’s surprise when the multitude chose Barabbas, the terrorist, over Jesus? Please note that Matthew 27:20 tells us it was the leaders who preferred Barabbas. “But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.” In typical mob fashion, most of the people just the leaders without thinking about what they were doing.

“And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)” (Luke 23:18-19)

Pilate asks them again because he can’t believe they understood him the first time. Luke 23:20 emphasizes that he asked them the second time. “Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.” They insisted they would prefer to have Barabbas.

“The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.” (Matthew 27:21-22)

Though they had insisted that Pilate try Jesus because they didn’t have the authority to execute him, Pilate had apparently not realized the lengths the rulers were willing to go to get rid of the competition, so they could retain their prestige and power.

“But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.” (Luke 23;21-22)

The demands for Jesus’ execution make no sense to Pilate and he tries again to placate them by offering to have Jesus whipped, hoping that would satisfy their bloodlust. The leaders still inflamed the mob with demands for his death.

“And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.” (Luke 23:23-25)

To prevent a riot and subsequent disruption of Passover week, which would have triggered a full scale revolution, Pilate bowed to public demands and released Barabbas, allowing the Jews to do as they wished with Jesus. He went out of his way to make sure they knew that he refused to take any responsibility for what they were about to do.

“When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.”(Matthew 27:24)

I suspect that Pilate’s scourging and mocking Jesus was a final attempt to divert them from their purpose, but served only to further inflame them. He made one final attempt to divert them posting his description of the charges on the cross. The rejection of Jesus as Lord and Savior was clearly deliberate and intentional. It still is today.