Jesus loves Barabbas

"I love him, I wanted him to be free"

"Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him."  Matthew 27:15-18

Barabbas was a prisoner, a criminal, who was chosen by the crowd over Jesus to be set free. Barabbas deserved the death penalty, Barabbas deserved to be shamed for what he has done. But Jesus, took his place. Jesus, an innocent man who was absolutely perfect was chosen over Barabbas by the crowd to face the ultimate death. 

Jesus was silent, knowing it was the Father's will to take on the shame and sin of Barabbas, of me, of you, of the world.

I think, how many times was I in the situation where it was Jesus, Pilate and I on the platform, and I deserved the shame, I deserved the consequence, where my sin was great but His LOVE was greater. 

You see, it didn't make sense to me, why did Jesus let Barabbas go? Why did the crowd want the prisoner released? Barabbas had no perception of who the man beside him was, no notion of who Jesus was, what miracles he performed, the love he demonstrated to the people. Barabbas just thought, "hey my people love me" but it wasn't the people who set him free, no, it was Jesus. 

"For Jesus knew that the Father would have to treat Jesus like Barabbas so He could treat Barabbas like Jesus"

Who is Barabbas? It's me, it's you. Jesus loves Barabbas, he wanted him to be free. Barabbas didn't acknowledge the fact that Jesus saved him, but He still loved him. For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Christ died for us KNOWING we'd still walk away, knowing we'd still fall into sin. 

But that's the beauty of the gospel. We are no match for the urges of sin but God is bigger, God is GREATER. 

We are Barabbas, but Jesus loves Barabbas. 

Accept the grace, accept the forgiveness, accept the love as Jesus walks to the cross, as Jesus pays the price. It's the power of Jesus, it'll always be the power of Jesus. He is enough.