City Life Starter

The Word

³⁹ But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

John 18:39-40

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

Matthew 27:20-23

We Want Barabbas!

The pharisees stirred up the crowd, got them on their side, convinced them to release Barabbas. Just the week before, this same crowd cried “Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9) The crowd loved the scenes and came to see what was going on. It was easy to join in, easy to fit in when following everyone else’s example.

The crowd did not realize the irony of the situation. They were choosing the son of their father the devil. They were choosing Jesus Barabbas instead of Jesus the Christ. The crowd could easily be stirred up when they realized that Barabbas could give them what they wanted, an insurrection, a hope for deliverance against Rome. And Jesus? Jesus was a disappointment. He couldn’t even defend himself against the Jewish leaders. Where were His miracles now? No sign of His power to overthrow Rome. But Barabbas promised so much more! Something tangible, something real. The Jewish leaders knew best.

Barabbas gave the Jews a short term goal and they couldn’t realize what they were saying. They gave in too easily to the Pharisees persuasiveness and self-interest (Matt 27:18). In the end, the voices of reason gave out and the shout for Barabbas became that much more clear. The crowd was convinced and followed blindly the wishes of their high priest.

Application

Are we blindly following the lead of those who we put too much trust in? Or do we put our hope in God, in our Savior, over those who cannot fulfill what they promise?

Do not be easily swayed by what the world says. Weigh what you hear and test it against the Word of God. Believers are born to be leaders, not followers. Stand up for what is right and honorable.

The Jews repented (Acts 2:37) and were cut to the heart for their ignorance and sin. You can as well for any past mistakes. Move on, put your trust in the Lord, and He will make your paths straight. Stand up with boldness and courage and choose the narrow road.