30 Day Challenge - Day 15

In Place of Barrabas

Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‬‬ ‭The Passion Translation‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

V. 15 “Now, every year at Passover it was the custom of the governor to pardon a prisoner and release him to the people—anyone they wanted.”

V. 16 “And at that time, Pilate was holding in custody a notorious criminal named Jesus Barabbas.

The name Barabbas is Aramaic, meaning “son of a father” or “son who is like his father”. Barabbas is a picture of every son of Adam, every human.

The choice that day was between two sons who were like their fathers. One was the perfect son of the only holy God, the other a son of fallen Adam.

17. So as the crowds of people assembled outside of Pilate’s residence, he went out and offered them a choice. He asked them, “Who would you want me to release to you today, Jesus who is called Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Anointed One?”

It must have seemed to Pilate that there was one obvious answer.

John 18 recounts a conversation between Jesus and Pilate.

V.33 “… Pilate asked him, “Are you really the king of the Jews?”

34. Jesus replied, “Are you asking because you really want to know, or are you only asking this because others have said it about me?”

35. Pilate responded, “Only a Jew would care about this; do I look like a Jew? ... So tell me, Jesus, what have you done wrong?”

36. Jesus looked at Pilate and said, “… My kingdom realm authority is not from this realm.”

37. Then Pilate responded, “Oh, so then you are a king?” “You are right.” Jesus said, “I was born a King, and I have come into this world to prove what truth really is. And everyone who loves the truth will receive my words.”

38. Pilate looked at Jesus and said, “What is truth?” … silence filled the room … Pilate said … “He’s not guilty...”

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭33‬-‭38‬ ‭TPT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Every person has a decision to make. Who do you want released into your life - the son of God or the son of Adam?

Jesus, the Son of God, willingly took the place of Jesus Barabbas, the son of sinful man.

Jesus proved truth when He suffered torment and death for every son of Adam.