Barabbus, was listed as a notorious criminal in both the Bible, and by Josephus, the Jewish historian. Some feel that by his name Bar-abbas (Bar means son, and abbas means father, and could also mean Rabbi) he was the son of an influencial man.
In Mark 15:6-7 we find he committed murder. In Matthew 27:16 he's called a notorious prisoner. And in John 18:39-40 he's called a robber. So all in all, Barabbus is about as bad as they come. And on that day he was designated to hang on the center cross.
Some of the following I got from the book "The Darkness and the Dawn" by Charles Swindoll. On the day of the crucifixion you can just picture this man in a cell waiting to be crucified for his sins. There is no hope of escape, the Roman soldiers are guarding him closely. He hears a crowd of people in the distance yelling his name "Barabbus, Barabbus." What he doesn’t hear is Pilate asking the crowd "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" But he does hear the roar of the crowd say "Barabbus." (Matthew 27:21 and Luke 23:18).
Now Pilate asks the crowd "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?" Barabbus cannot hear the one voice of Pilate, but he does hear the crowd’s answer "Let Him be crucified" (Matthew 27:21-22). All he can hear is the crowd yelling "Barabbus - let him be crucified." I don’t know how brave a man Barabbus was, but I’m sure the thought of the slow painful death by crucifixion, and all this taking place before the end of the day, would bring uncontrollable fear to anyone.
So here he is sitting and waiting. And then he hears the heavy footsteps of the soldiers on the stone pavement coming to get him. The cell door opens, one of the soldiers growl: "Get out of here Barabbus." He is now close to faint. But then he hears "You're free to go."
If there’s any man in history, who knows he had a substitute on that center cross, a man who died in his place for his sins – it’s Barabbus. Barabbus missed his cross because another Man literally took his place. But let’s not forget, Jesus was our substitute too. He bore our sins and died the death that we deserve, just as he died the death Barabbus deserved. He hung on the cross intended for Barabbus, just as he hung on the cross in our place.
Like Barabbus we were dead in our trespasses and sins until Jesus' crucified body released the blood of substitution. Like Barabbus we were condemned to die until Jesus took our place. And like Barabbus, we have been set free, and it’s a freedom for eternity.
Jesus paid the penalty for more than Barabbus. He died as a sacrifice, once and for all, for the sins of all humanity. Because He bore the cross we deserve, we're able to have an eternal peace and home in Heaven we don't deserve.
So, who is this man Barabbus? He’s none other - than you and me!
By George Konig
July 25, 2004
www.georgekonig.org
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