A case for Barabbas

Barabbas or Christ the choice was given, and the people shouted give us Barabbas. Why did the people choose Barabbas over Jesus the Christ? This a very important question that most people have not taken time to answer. One which I will attempt to answer. In order for us to appropriately answer this question, we must first find out who was Barabbas?

Before we answer the question, who was Barabbas? We must first lay down some ground work. From since Israel Yahweh chosen people, was very dramatically delivered from Egyptian bondage; they have been an underdog nation who have come up against many nation that had much larger and mightier armies. Armies with better trained, more skilled fighters, with more sophisticated weapons etc. However when Israel was faithful to Yahweh: the awesome creator of the Universe, he always got personally involved in Israel's battles, and he did so on Israel's behalf and he always ensure his chosen people were always victorious. So we can now conclude that the key to Israel's victories were directly hinged on their faithfulness to the almighty Creator of the Universe: Yahweh.

 When Israel was faithful they were unbeatable, but when Israel was unfaithful to their God, they become easy pray to even the weakest of nation. The history of Israel is well documented, and the children of Israel knew of every instant that the awesome creator have saw them through a difficult circumstance. From the plight of Abraham to the deliverance of Egypt, from the parting of the Red Sea to the fall of the wall of Jericho and every event between. Now the people of Yahweh has lost their sovereignty and they was being the ruled by pagan Roam. There were two things that occurred that did not sit well with the members that made up the twelve tribes of Israel.

The first and most devastating of things that could have happened to Israel was the chosen people of the grate creator Yahweh became a conquered nation and must be subjected to the infidels: Roman rule and authority. The second was, the Roman elevated the half breed Israelites: the Jews, who are descendent of the tribe of Benjamin and was considered less than, by the full blood Israelites. Now the Jews were in full control over their brother, over whom they exercise oppressive control.

There could not have been two more embarrassing situations to have been placed upon Israel as the two that was outlined above. This situation could have easily been reversed, if Israel turn from their sins and turn back to God in faithfulness. For there was nothing that moved the hands of Yahweh, like the faithfulness of his nation, his people: Israel. Israel had lost their way, they wanted their freedom but they were not willing to return from their sins, return back to their God and live in faithful obedience to him who have called them and claimed them as his own, in accordance to his words. In other words Israel wanted to have their pie and eat it also.

Barabbas was among the group of men who try to free Israel from the political clutches the pagan Roman. They started a revolt against the Romans authority in an effort to free Israel. unfortunately the Roman crushed the revolt and Barabbas were taken prisoner. To the Romans, Barabbas was a common criminal a murderer, To the Israelites he was a hero, a freedom fighter, a liberator; the one who was willing to give his life for Israel political freedom. The Israelites, with the exception for the Jews, did not see anything wrong with Barabbas' actions, for they were tired of the oppression handed down to them from the Roman via the Jews. The capture and imprisonment of Barabbas, broke the fighting spirit of the Israel, their hope for political redemption was crushed with the death sentence that was laid upon their revolutionary: Barabbas.

What was unfortunate was; even if Barabbas managed to retook Israel's sovereignty from the Romans; their freedom would have been short lived, because Israel's freedom was rapped up in their faithfulness to Yahweh; the God who choose them to be his people. Israel will forever be a free and victorious as long as they were faithful to their God the one who called them. It was not within the power of Barabbas to liberate Israel that was God's responsibility. The liberation of Israel was always conditional upon their faithfulness to Yahweh.

When Jesus arrived on the scene there was renewed hope in Israel, the one to replace Barabbas was here. This Jesus was no ordinary man, this was a man who came from God. Nicodemus a member of the Jew ruling class acknowledged Jesus exceptional and supreme power, that he hid himself under the covers of night, went to Jesus and confessed. He said to Jesus; no man can do the things that you do unless he was sent by God. John 3: 2.

In the people's mind, they knew the power that Jesus had was beyond anything Barabbas had. They foresaw that Jesus' army was going to be the most mighty army there ever was or ever will be. Jesus' army was going to be much better than anything Barabbas was able to put together. General Jesus has the power to raise the dead, they foresaw men who were in general Jesus' army receiving fatal wound in battle and recovering from the dead ready to fight again; this was so because they saw Jesus raise the little maid and Lazarus from the dead. He can heal the sick and wounded, because of this, the injuries of his soldiers will be instantly taken care of and on two occasion they witnessed Jesus fed massive groups of five thousand and more. With General Jesus' ability to turn water into wine and to multiply a simple meal into healthy meal for five thousands and more. with these magnificent abilities, General Jesus' army will have no need for food. What an awesome General, Jesus was going to be; his army is going to be indestructible.

 Now all eyes were upon Jesus; with the type of power Jesus had, the Roman saw him as a threat to their continued reign over Israel, for they had no answer to the type of power he possessed, the Jews saw Jesus as a threat to their rule over their half brothers who looked down on them because of their history and the full blooded Israelites saw Jesus as their political Redeemer the one to set them free from Egyptian bondage.

Jesus was of the right lineage, as a matter of fact if Israel monarchy was unforced Jesus would have qualify to be King of Israel. Jesus had all of the characteristics that was needed to take the reign of Israel away from he authority of the Romans. He had the power to defeat and over throw the Romans, he was from the lineage (blood) to ascend the throne of Israel and he had the opportunity to over throw roam any time he so wish. But what was Jesus' God assigned mission on earth. It was not Jesus' mission to gain political power, to lead a revolution, or to follow in his forefather's King David's footsteps and rightfully ascend the throne of Israel; but it was his mission to redeem the world from sins. In order for him to do that, Jesus must die as a lamb would have died without retaliation, he was to suffer the humiliation of man at the hands of man.

Like most of us today, Israel confused the difference between their needs and their wants. But Jesus did not have no doubts as to what his role was on earth. Israel was not concerned about a spiritual savior, one who was capable of redeeming them from their sins, which they needed; they were more concern with gaining a political savior, one who could free them from Roman rule which they wanted. Israel did not understand what was best for them. Jesus had to obey his father's will, he had to do what was best for Israel and for the world: the pass, the present and the future. Israel had a way to be free from Roman political rule but they became so acquainted with sin that they refuse to turn away from their offensive living.

When Israel saw their expected political king, weak, defeated, naked, being mocked and made a fool of by the Romans as well as the Jews as is recorded in Mark 15 chapter. their hopes for political freedom was dashed against the wall. Compares to Jesus, Barabbas look strong. In their eyes Barabbas was a better candidate than Jesus to get them out of political bondage. What good is Jesus' power if he is not going to use it to free his brothers from Roman bondage, what good is having all that power if you are afraid to use it? They asked themselves.

To Israel and their desire for political freedom; Jesus was certainly not the man for the Job. Barabbas have shown them in the pass what he was willing to do, so he must be the man for the Job. As a result when Pilot asked in Mark 15: 11-13. who do you want Jesus the King of the Jews or Barabbas the revolutionary, it was an easy choice. Give us the one who will fight the Romans for our freedom; Give us Barabbas the shout went out.

If I was present, giving all of the evidence that I now have, I may have join the disappointed throng and say Give me Barabbas. I am happy that Jesus walked the path he choose, because to be free from the rule of political evil is all good, but to be granted the opportunity to be forever saved from your sins is even better. Thanks be to the wonderful blood of Jesus.