Why Barabbas? Sermon for Passion Sunday, March 16, 2008
March 13th, 2008 Posted in Sermons+ In Nomine Jesu +
Passion Sunday
The Rev. Evan P. Gaertner
March 16, 2008
“The crowd chooses Barabbas”
One may wish the crowd had answered differently when Pilate asked, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
Pilate offered up the worst criminal he had in prison at this time, this Barabbas. He offers Jesus as the only alternative.
Jesus is placed beside a murderer. The innocent Son of God is placed next to a man whose bloody guilt was beyond doubt. The injustice of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion is placed on show for the crowd, the Jewish council and all of us to witness.
Pilate presumed the people would make a just choice and release the innocent man. Pilate had an expectation of the people that turned out to be false. Matthew and Mark openly state in their gospels that the reason Pilate used this method to free Jesus was because he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
The Great Sanhedrin was the assembly of Jewish judges that acted as the legislative body and supreme court for ancient Israel. Pilate perceived that the Jewish leaders had become jealous that the people were flocking to Jesus.
Pilate was attempting to take the power of this moment away from the Sanhedrin and instead trust the crowd. Pilate anticipated that the crowd would see the envious plot of the Sanhedrin for what it was and so vote in favor of Jesus.
The Lord is good and has shown his favor to his people, but nevertheless the people soon forget his works. Psalm 106:13 “But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.”
The crowd did not trust the works and words of Jesus that they had been witnesses of but instead blindly followed the persuasion of the chief priests and the elders.
Pilate said to the people, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”
They called for the release of the guilt and demanded the death of the righteousness of God, Jesus Christ.
Pilate asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
Pilate thought he had made sure of the release of Jesus when he placed Jesus opposite of Barabbas. His response to the crowd was filled with frustration and amazement, “Why, what evil has he done?”
Pilate had counted on the people acting with a sense of justice, but Pilate misunderstood the people. Pilate placed his decision into the hands of the people and found himself helpless.
Jesus crucifixion is wrapped in our sin. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. The leaders had Jesus arrested because of jealousy. Peter denied that he was a follower of Jesus because he felt threatened. The crowd shouted for the release of a murderous thug, blind to the innocence of Jesus. The people that walked by Jesus as he hung on the cross mocked him and their words were filled with scorn.
In the end we cannot trust the works of our own hands. Our man made decisions will always crumble under the weight of injustice. Only when we marry ourselves to the will of God will we find our path towards God. This path will be filled with the cross, but more importantly the path that is paved with faith in God is a path that is sure.
Pilate became helpless in this trial because he trusted the people, and he has become a moral disappointment of history. In contrast to Pilate’s helplessness, Jesus is in control. He trusts his life to the purpose of God to save the people from their sins. To scorn he offered himself. He did not throw insults. As Isaiah promised, “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Is 53:3)
We can stand fast against the cries of the crowd and know that we will not be put to shame. Stand with God, no matter how many stand against you. By faith trust in Jesus Christ who did not abandon you in your time of need.
Jesus Christ, abandoned by the crowds, carried your sins to the cross. Pilate trusted in the crowd and found himself helpless. The chief priests and the elders trusted in their powers of persuasion and found themselves with the innocent blood of Christ on their hands. The crowds trusted their leaders and were pulled away from standing up for the one that had come to deliver them. Only Jesus can save you. Abandoned by everyone he nevertheless tells Satan to bring it on. Nothing Satan could put in the way of Jesus would pull him away from delivering you from death to life.
You know who wins this trial in the end: Jesus Christ. You know who stands with you now: Jesus Christ.
Trust in Christ and you will not be disappointed. He alone is the one that gives you life and victory of any trial you will face.
Soli Deo Gloria
