Tag: The Release of Barabbas

Trials

It is the story of the world’s greatest injustice that was in fact the world’s greatest act of mercy.
In the public trials of Jesus, justice was nowhere to be found. First before Caiaphas the High Priest, Jesus was judged by the Sanhedrin, a spiritual trial by spiritual men to determine offences to the spiritual laws of Israel. Later before Pilate He had a civil trial before officers of Roman law who could care less about spiritual things. In common they held a fear of Jesus, the ultimate nonconformist who held a different spirituality and whose citizenship was that of a higher Kingdom. In both cases, Jesus was demonstratively innocent but in both cases, He had to be found guilty.

Caiaphas
Liars came in bunches to testify before the elders. Having had little time to prepare, their stories did not match but that was of no consequence. The outcome was predetermined. Finally a pair of liars accused Jesus of speaking against the Temple threatening its destruction. This was useful for they had heard something like that from Jesus themselves. When questioned about this, Jesus did not answer. To the charge of claiming to be the Son God, Jesus pled guilty. The old man tore his priestly robes and declared blasphemy, seeking to end the trial at once. Suddenly the guards were free to beat Jesus and spit on Him. The council judged Him worthy of death as the tormentors of Jesus continued their unjust work.

Peter
Listening in an adjacent courtyard Peter tried to blend in with the vagrants in the pre-dawn darkness. Three times he was accosted by someone who had seen him with Jesus and three times he denied knowing Jesus at all. Much too early, a rooster in the distance sang his raucous song. The bird awakened the grief within Peter, sending him running away in tears.

Pilate
With daylight, the elders brought Jesus before the Roman Governor, Pilate. Blasphemy was of no concern to Pilate; he just wanted to keep the peace. A man who could stir such unrest must be dealt with.

Judas
These trials sent him back to the elders. He threw the pieces of silver at their feet declaring Jesus to be innocent. They were not moved and refused the money. Judas saw no options, no way out, no way back to the fellowship of his brothers. All he could see was a tree and rope; the price of his guilt.

Barabbas
Before Pilate things were simpler. There were no confusing religious standards of right and wrong; there was just Roman Law. The issue was not His claim to be the Son of God, but that of being King of Jews. When asked directly, Jesus admitted this was so. As testimony grew, Jesus fell silent. Pilate offered, as the custom was, a convicted assassin, Barabbas, instead of Jesus. The crowd demanded Jesus and, although Pilate saw no guilt in Jesus, and over the warning of his wife, he gave Jesus to the Roman soldiers to continue the torment.

The stripes on His back, the abuse from first the Temple guards and then the Roman soldiers, none of these bloody wounds was earned by the Lord. He was innocent of all wrongdoing yet He was judged guilty by the courts of Men. It is the story of the world’s greatest injustice that was, in fact, the world’s greatest act of mercy.

Scriptures:
Matthew 26:36-56; 27:1-
And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'” And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?” Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.
Chapter 27
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the judgments of men against You were merciless. You were innocent and they were guilty but You took the punishment. It was only the beginning of Your suffering; You were on Your way to Calvary. Lord, I am as guilty as any of the Temple guards or the Roman soldiers. I have been as wrong as the councils of Caiaphas or the courts of Pilate. Yet, now I stand before You as if I had never sinned, so thorough and complete is Your forgiveness! Thank You, O faultless One! Amen and Amen.

Song:
I Find No Fault In Him
Words and Music: Andrea Crouch

I find no fault in Him.
I find no fault in Him.
Yet He was rejected
Despised of men
But I find no fault in Him.

They led Christ to Calvary
But He never said one word.
Just the cries of lost sinners
Was all the Savior heard.
And then they pierced Him in the side
And His blood came streaming down.
And that’s how he purchased my salvation
And I find no fault in Him.

I find no fault in Him.
I find no fault in Him.
Yet He was rejected
Despised of men
But I find no fault in Him.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved