I Am Barabbas

This week we are in John 18 which focuses on the trial and arrest of Jesus.

Something mysterious has begun to happen in the Garden of Gethsemane. Although it is something we are told about in plain language, I am convinced we cannot fully comprehend it. Only in the councils of the Trinity is there a full accounting of what took place that night. Nevertheless, we must press on to learn and understand as much as we can from the inspired text.

We are told in Luke's Gospel that Jesus was in such agony He began to sweat great drops of blood. The Father had given Him a cup to drink, and Christ drank it willingly. It was the cup of God's wrath on sin. It was the poison cup you and I so richly deserved, but Christ drank it in our place.

*****

It had been an exhausting week. Pilgrims from all over Israel had come to Jerusalem for the Passover. Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and His confrontations with the religious leaders had reached the breaking point. This was the final day, and the Passover was nigh. After a long and somber day, they retired to the Garden of Gethsemane. While Jesus agonized in prayer, His exhausted disciples were heavy with sleep. His time was now at hand. As Jesus again went to stir them, off in the distance, the flickering torches of an armed mob of soldiers appeared. In front of the mob was Judas Iscariot. The chief priests had been seeking an opportunity to arrest Jesus privately, and Judas provided the opportunity for thirty pieces of silver -- the price of a slave.

Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand." While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; seize him." And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. -- Matthew 26:45-50

We have come full circle in the biblical narrative. The Bible began in a garden; the Garden of Eden where man once walked in fellowship with his Creator. But in fairly short order, man decided to reject God's rightful rule. In an act of betrayal, man stole what did not belong to him, and determined that he would decide for himself what was right and wrong -- the knowledge of good and evil. It was treason on a cosmic scale*. 

Once again, we find man in a garden with his Maker. But this time it is the Garden of Gethsemane. It seems that mankind has come to finish the job he started in Eden. Having rejected God's rightful rule in Eden, he now comes in the form of a mob to Gethsemane. This time he has come to put God on trial and condemn Him to death. When you reject the King, you must kill the King (Luke 19:14, Acts 3:14-15). But despite all appearances to the contrary, God is still in full control. And lest there be any doubt of this we read:

Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. -- John 18:4-6

In a more literal reading, Jesus said "I Am", once again proclaiming His deity. Jesus gave just a small demonstration of His power and this mob fell to the ground like toy soldiers in a whirlwind. Mere man cannot stand before the glory of God. But this was not just a random act of power on Jesus' part, He did it for a reason. He did it to secure the release of His disciples.

So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go." This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one." -- John 18:7-9

How is it that man can be so hard-hearted as to deny the power of God right before their eyes? It is a familiar pattern, isn't it? In the same way that Pharaoh hardened his heart before Moses and Herod hardened his heart before John the Baptist, these men hardened their hearts before Christ and suppressed the truth in unrighteousness.

For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because the thing which may be known of God is clearly revealed within them, for God revealed it to them. -- Romans 1:18-19

 

What Is Truth?

In the closing verses of John 18, it would appear that Jesus is standing before the judgment seat of Pilate. But in actuality, it is the other way around. Though he does not realize it, Pilate is the one being judged. What will he do with the Truth that stands before him?

Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him. -- John 18:37-38

Doesn't Pilate sound like so many in our own day? “What is truth?” Was Pilate a man before his time -- a cynical postmodern who did not believe in objective truth? Or was he afraid that there was such a thing as truth? The Truth to which we are all accountable. Sadly, Pilate did not wait for an answer to his own question; he was yet another man suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. Even before Pilate asked the question and turned away, Jesus had already told him the truth. Truth Himself stared Pilate in the face, but he was too foolish to recognize it. Pilate turned his back on the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and went to cut a deal with the Jewish leaders.

Very likely the mention of "truth" touched his conscience, and he found it convenient to go out hurriedly, and cover his retreat with a sneer. A bad conscience generally dislikes a close conversation with a good man. - J.C. Ryle

Ultimately Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent, but he would not sacrifice his political ambitions over over an innocent man. So he gave the crowd an option:

But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber. -- John 18:39-40

When we read about Barabbas, we can't help but think about how unjust this was. Barabbas was a genuinely guilty criminal sentenced to death. Yet, this guilty man was set free while Christ, the perfect and sinless Lamb of God, was killed in his place. That is a maddening and outrageous miscarriage of justice! But, isn't this outrage also an exact picture of what Christ did for you and me as well?

Like Barabbas, I am truly guilty, not before an unrighteous provincial judge like Pilate, but before God, the holy and righteous Judge of all the earth. I have committed high treason against my maker and crowned myself king. I am the one who deserves the lash to my back and a mocking crown of thorns on my brow. I am the one who deserves a shameful death, the only rightful wages for my sin. But Christ, with incomprehensible love, grace, and mercy, willingly took my place and paid my penalty. He bore the shame and punishment that I so richly deserve. And in so doing, He set me free. I am the guilty man who has been set free, while the innocent One suffered in my place. I am Barabbas.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -- Romans 5:6-8

*R.C. Sproul coined the term "Cosmic Treason", describing the sin of Adam and Eve.

Intermission

We're in the home stretch with four chapters to go and we will resume the study on the week of September 16th. Right now would be a great time to catch up if you've fallen behind. And please, by all means, listen to the sermons I've posted as they are a critical part of our study through John. Until then, see you soon.