Barabbas is mentioned in all four gospel narratives (Matthew 27: 16; Luke 23: 18; John 18:40), so his inclusion here is a major point in the narratives of the crucifixion. He was a notorious prisoner – a robber, rebel/revolutionary, and murderer. The rebel mode/mob mentality perhaps took him beyond what he would normally have done. Look at the mob riots in parts of the world – including America; people can be incited to do things corporately that they wouldn’t do privately. Barabbas was bound – the Greek word “dedemenos, from “deo” = “tie, bind, fasten”. His sins fastened him to judgment. Are we any different? Jesus said in Matthew 5: 21, 22, 27, 28 that it is not just the behavior; it is the intent. If you hate, it’s the same as murder. To lust is the same as adultery. To covet is to steal. In a very real sense, we are Barabbas – deserving of judgment, yet God served a table of grace.
Thank You For The Table – Romans 3: 21-25. The Law and prophetic words condemned us so Jesus demonstrated His love for us and passed over our list of offenses.
In Mark 15: 7-15 we have a situation of envy, cowardice, and sacrificial love. The chief priests are envious – verse 10. The Greek word “phthonon” includes the word grudge. The idea here is that there it is a strong feeling or desire that sours due to sin. It is to desire to have and hold a grudge when someone else is preferred or receives what you wanted. The chief priests wanted the heart of the people and only Jesus had that. So, they incited a riot – they stirred up the crowd – Greek word “anaseio” – meaning to “move to and fro; stir up, shake, excite”. It’s like when a sports team wins a championship and often the crowds that celebrate, end up setting fire to cars and do a lot of damage because they are in the mob mentality. Add to that Pilate’s ambitions and cowardess, as he sought to satisfy the crowd – which is the Greek word “ikanon” meaning “adequate, sufficient, make them content”. The truth is, you’ll never satisfy people politically or socially; only God can truly satisfy the soul. So Pilate cries out, “Who do you want me to release to you?”. If you were Sharon Tate’s sister, would you want Charles Manson set free to live in your community – or alive at all? Would you want the person who maimed, attacked, or destroyed your financial future, to be in your community club? The choice here comes from the people he probably plundered. They were so worked up by the chief priests lying about Jesus, that they temporarily forgot about the truth of Barabbas – who he really was. So, Barabbas didn’t end up on the cross – or did he? The name Barabbas broken down means this: Bar = son; Abbas = father, or in a sense, daddy. Only through Jesus on the cross, could Barabbas ever really be a son of the Father. And in going to the cross, Jesus was, as Isaiah 9:6 declares: “Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given.” A heavenly gift for an earthly birth. The real Son of The Father took His place on that table and served us eternal life.
Communion: Presentation of the Bread and Cup
We go forward into our future – this communion table is extended to the future, so that more can come to the table and find fullness of joy, as well as being a reminder of the coming marriage supper of The Lamb. Here The Son of The Father is the bridegroom, welcoming His bride. We come in white – our black deeds blotted out. Let’s go forward as sons and daughters of The Father, knowing the crowd may cry out against us, but God spoke for us and sent His very best.