Jesus or Barabbas
Luke 23:18.
But the whole crowd shouted, Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!
Jesus or Barabbas.
Mark 15:1-15.
Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. Are you the king of the Jews?
asked Pilate. You have said so, Jesus replied. The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of. But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
Jesus or Barabbas.
Mark 15:1-15 (continued)
Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews? Pilate asked them. Crucify him! they shouted. Why? What crime has he committed? asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, Crucify him! Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Who was Annas?
Annas was the father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. (John 18:13) He was a person of great influence in the Sanhedrin. Jesus was arrested and first brought to Annas. He also took a leading part in the trial of the apostles. Jesus was sent to Caiaphas.
Who was Caiaphas?
Caiaphas was a high priest and gave counsel to the Jews saying it was “expedient that one man should die for the people.” (John 18:14) He belonged to the Sadducee party and took an active part in the attack made upon Jesus and his disciples. Jesus came bound to Caiaphas into the hall of judgment. Jesus was sent to Pilate.
Who was Pilate?
Pontius Pilate was the Roman Procurator (governor) of Judaea. His headquarters were at Caesarea, but he was generally present in Jerusalem at the feast time. Jesus was charged before him with “stirring up sedition, making himself king, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar. Pilate saw no evidence to support the charge. As soon as Pilate heard Jesus was under the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent Jesus to him.
Mark 15:6-8.
Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
Who was Barabbas?
What was “The Feast”?
What was “The Feast”?
The Feast of the Passover was instituted to commemorate the passing over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when God smote the firstborn of the Egyptians, and more generally the redemption from Egypt.
What happens during “The feast”?
During this time the Governor of Jerusalem , who was Pontius Pilate, would release one prisoner (Luke 23:17-19)
Jesus was forsaken by His own creation.
The only true God.
The Maker of the Universe, as Man for man was made a curse. The claims of laws which He had made, unto the uttermost He paid. His holy fingers made the bough, which grew the thorns that crowned His brow. The nails that pierced His feet were mined in secret places He designed. He made the forests where there sprung, the tree on which His body hung. He died upon a cross of wood, yet made the hill on which it stood. The sky that darkened o’er His head, by Him above the earth was spread. The sun that hid from Him his face, by His decree was poised in space. The spear revealing precious blood, was tempered in the fires of God. The grace in which His form was laid, was hewn in rock which He had made. The throne on which He now appears, was His from everlasting years But a new glory crowns His brow and every knee to Him must bow. (MICHAEL J. PENFOLD)
Jesus was forsaken by man made in His own image.
Jesus was forsaken by His own people the Jews.
John 1:11.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
John 5:43.
I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
Jesus was forsaken by His Disciples.
John 16:32.
A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
Jesus was forsaken by man made in His own image.
Jesus was forsaken by the crowds He ministered to and healed.
Matthew 27:21-26.
Which of the two do you want me to release to you? asked the governor. Barabbas, they answered. What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah? Pilate asked. They all answered, Crucify him! Why? What crime has he committed? asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, Crucify him! When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. I am innocent of this man’s blood, he said. It is your responsibility! All the people answered, His blood is on us and on our children! Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Jesus or Barabbas.
Jesus was forsaken by the crowds He ministered to and healed.
They chose Barabbas over Him.
Sadly it is still the same today, when people are sick or someone has lost their job or someone is dying, people flock to Jesus,
However when it comes time to choose between holiness and sinful pleasure, between separation to God and popularity/ family and friends, they cry “Give us Barabbas”
The Chief Priests chose Barabbas i.e.: Their religious positions.
Mark 15:9-11.
Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? asked Pilate,
knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
Jesus or Barabbas.
Pilate chose Barabbas over Jesus i.e.: His political position.
John 19:12.
From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.
Mark 15:15.
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Jesus or Barabbas.
The world still cries “give us Barabbas” today.
Give us the sodomites and they homosexuals, give us the adulterers and the murderers, we will tolerate anything but this Jesus Christ, religion will do but we don’t want this born again cult.
Jesus or Barabbas.
Jesus was forsaken by His Father.
God the Father chose Barabbas over His own son.
Mark 15:33-34.
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”
(which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Jesus was forsaken so that you and I could be accepted.
Isaiah 53:10-11.
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
You and I are responsible for Jesus death.
Isaiah 53:3-6.
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
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