Chapter 4.17
Barabbas
Conspiracy
The Great Exchange
The Substitutionary Atonement
A Little Background
We first hear about Barabbas
at the trial of Jesus when Pilate WANTS to try to
figure out a way to release Jesus unharmed to the people through “The Great
Exchange”, but his efforts didn’t go according to plan. This is where we pick up the story.
Zelote is a Greek word
meaning “Zealous
One.” The Zealot Resistance was founded in
the time of Quirinius around 6 to 7
A.D by a Galilean named Judas and a Pharisee by the name of Zadok. The Zealots were an underground political party; a fanatical
Jewish sect that militantly opposed the Roman domination of Palestine. Judas the Galilean led the Zealots
in an ill-fated revolt against the Romans; he was killed and his followers
scattered, but the Zealot Resistance lived on.
Oddly enough the Zealot’s beginnings were the same year Jesus was born
and the tax decree had just been made; the Romans had ordered a census to be
taken of the Jews for the purpose of TAXATION[1] and the Zealots
were objecting for two main reasons.
FIRST; they took the position that no one
should be honored as Lord or King but God Jehovah. So they rejected the foreign
rule of the Romans.
SECOND; to pay taxes to an Emperor was
considered Idolatry and blasphemous to God.
The Zealots mantras was; “NO RULE BUT THE LAW, NO KING BUT
GOD”. They were greatly feared as they would kill
you in cold blood just because you were a Roman. They had hope for a Messiah that would
overthrow the Roman Government and restore the kingdom to Israel. Two Disciples; Judas Iscariot and Simon the Zealot held
the same “Political
Views” and believed that Jesus was “The Man” that had come to
restore Israel.
The Zealots around 52 to 60
A.D. formed a radical group known as The Sicarii (dagger people) indicative of their tactics, who
circulated in crowds during festivals and killed Roman sympathizers with
daggers that they concealed in their clothing. That certainly would include TAX COLLECTORS for Rome who
were for the most part JEWS.
The Sicarii were devoted
supporters of God and His laws and secretly engaged in acts of intrigue,
violence, force, deceptions plus ASSASSINATIONS of Roman
soldiers and anyone else that opposed the resistance in order to keep it from
achieving its liberating ends.
Barabbas was the leader of such a group
of men. As I read through the
Commentaries I see two different Belief Systems at
work, I find some students of the Word that want to CONDEMN the Zealots for
starting the Roman War while others want to call them HEROS. I leave
it to you to decide.
Acts 5:37 – Judas the Galilean Zealot led a
revolt against Rome
37 Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the CENSUS and led a band
of people in REVOLT. He too was
killed; followers scattered. NIV
The Comparison
Barabbas
comes on the scene as a deliverer of the Hebrew people from the oppression
of Rome and was a favorite of the SILENT
MAJORITY. He had been arrested and charged with homicidal political terrorism; being a notorious revolutionary, an insurrectionist as well as being a bandit; a robber
and a murderer;[2] one
could say Barabbas had a few flaws in his character.
Many students of the Word think that the Zealot Barabbas was also named “Jesus” which was a common name,
and to make sure that Pilate did not misunderstand which Jesus they were
talking about, they used the word “Bar-abbas” so as to not be confused with the
other Jesus from Nazareth. Bar means O, the rendering of his full name as
found in the NIV is written as “JESUS BARABBAS”.[3]
Barabbas was the son of the Father. His path was to overthrow Rome with the sword.
Jesus was also known
as the Son
of the Father. His path was peace and suffering which did not attract the masses as Barabbas did.
The Pharisees tried to get Jesus connected with The Zealot
Resistance Movement by asking
him the question; “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar”? They were tricksters.[4] Jesus had been on the scene now for about 3
years and was also considered a deliverer of the Hebrew people from the power
of Rome.
Did you see it? We have TWO men named
Jesus; TWO “Sons of the
Father;” both with a path for deliverance of Israel. TWO paths; one of
Peace and the other of the sword. One
was a Sinner; the other who knew no Sin;[5]
today there are still TWO paths to the kingdom
of God.
The Great Exchange
The
Mishnah Pesahim 8.6 ordains that the Passover Lamb may be offered
for one whom they have promised to bring out of prison. There was a custom of
amnesty at the Passover feast to release one prisoner each year and this time,
instead of Jesus
of Nazareth, the crowds shouted out to release Barabbas, the notorious ZEALOT, murderer and insurrectionist who was
considered their HERO.[6] The penalty of being charged with
insurrection was the worst death possible; crucifixion on the cross on a public
highway as a warning to everyone that passed by and saw him.
Pilate
repeatedly took Jesus aside into the judgment hall and questioned Him; the thought
being; “Jesus if you will just cooperate with me, I can
get you out of this mess and I can get myself off this Hot Seat”;[7]
but Jesus would not defend Himself.
Scripture seems
to indicate that the crowd does not take a stand against Jesus, but are more
like spectators; passive rather than hostile, until
they are stirred up by the Chief Priest who
wielded considerable influence. The crowd had assembled to obtain the release
of their HERO and
insurrectionist BARABBAS. Jesus was just collateral damage, besides
that, He had disappointed them in their hopes and expectations of a Messiah.
Pilate
condemns Jesus to death. Pilate’s
action was not prompted by the desire for justice, but by political and moral cowardice. Barabbas was released and saved from
crucifixion; JESUS TOOK HIS PLACE; this is known as “Substitutionary
Atonement”. Did you see it? Jesus became the Passover
Lamb and took the place of a
condemned sinful man on the cross thereby sparing his life.
When Jesus died
on the cross, He also took our place and died for our
sins.
The Choice
Did you see it? It was Pilate who became on trial; he had to
choose the way that he knew was right or the way of the world and his choice
put the blood of Jesus Christ on his hands forever even though he tried to wash
them.
Pilate then gave the Jews the same CHOICE of
Jesus Barabbas or Jesus the Christ. Today
we have the same choice that the Hebrews had, as well as all the people of all
races down through the centuries. The
choice of where to place our faith; in Jesus the Son of God
or in Jesus
the son of the world; the Creator or the Creation.
If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey His commandments, that
person is a liar and is not living in the truth. I didn’t say this; God did.
Now you are the one that’s on trial; you must
choose what you believe. To make no
decision is a decision to reject God’s only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ. If you accept, then EVERYONE will know it, because of how you live your life.
Life is choice driven,
it’s in
the Book
Matthew 27:24 – You can’t wash your hands
of His blood
24 So when Pilate saw that he
prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, HE TOOK WATER, AND WASHED HIS HANDS before the
multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man;
ESV
1 Corinthians 1:18 – Path to the Cross is
foolish to the perishing
18 The word of the
cross is FOLLY
to
those who are PERISHING,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(ESV)
1 John 2:3-4 - If you are a Believer then
you will Obey God
3 And we can be sure that we know
him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims;
4 “I
KNOW GOD,” BUT DOESN’T OBEY GOD’S COMMANDMENTS, that person is a LIAR and is not living
in the truth.
NLT
[1] Luke 2:1 – Romans decreed
the Jews must pay taxes.
[2] Mark 15:7 – Barabbas a REBEL;
was in prison a Sinner
-- Luke 23:19 – Barabbas an INSURRECTIONIST a Sinner -- Acts
3:14 - Barabbas was a MURDERER
a Sinner -- John 18:40 – Barabbas was a ROBBER a Sinner
[3] Matthew 27:16 – JESUS BARABBAS was well known prisoner
[4] Mark 12:13-17 – The
Trick; Pay taxes or not; Zealot?
[5] Luke 23:4 – Jesus, No fault found, SINLESS
[6] Matthew 27:21 – Who do
you want to be released? BARABBAS
-- John
[7] John 19:3-4 - I find no fault in Jesus; not
guilty
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