I Am Barabbas!

In 1960, Kirk Douglas starred in a movie titled "Spartacus." In the movie, Spartacus was the leader of a slave revolt during the Roman Republic of the First Century. When the rebel slave army is finally captured, they are asked to identify their leader, Spartacus, for special punishment. The man who would identify Spartacus would be given a pardon. Every surviving man responds by shouting "I'm Spartacus!" As a result, all men are sentenced to death by crucifixion.

We sometimes think of the crucifixion as being only used on Jesus, but it was commonly used by the Romans for torture and execution. It was probably invented by the by the Persians, but it was perfected by the Romans, to make it the most brutal and horrendous form of punishment and death ever.

God could have chosen a kinder form of death for Jesus, but He wanted to show His hatred of sin and His love for us by using the Roman crucifixion.

One Passover, three criminals were being prepared for their own crucifixion: two thieves and a murderer. Barabbas was identified as being a murderer and rebel in the gospel of Mark. He was probably destined for the cross.

In Matthew 27:15-26 it says:

Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor.

"Barabbas," they answered.

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked.

They all answered, "Crucify him!"

"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"

All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Barabbas was probably headed for Calvary with the other two criminals, but Jesus took his place. Barabbas deserved death but was freed. We can only imagine, what he thought of that event? What did he think of Jesus? What was he expecting? Did he appreciate that sacrifice, or did he just brush it aside? Did he realize what Jesus did for him?

But the question for us, are we Barabbas? Can we identify with him? We have sinned. We deserve death, but Jesus has taken our place. Do we realize the gift, the love, the sacrifice? We deserve to be on the cross, but Jesus died for us. He set us free. He set me free. I am Barabbas!

-Jay Crook