“THE JOURNEY OF TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH #2-THE MAN WHO MISSED HIS CROSS”
MATTHEW 27:16-26
INTRO: Last week we began this series which would lead us to the Cross and
ultimately the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by
looking at His suffering and Submission in the Garden of Gethsemane
for us. Gethsemane showed us: THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST and
THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST. We learned that all Jesus faced there in
that Garden so long ago was for you and for me! This morning we will
be looking at THE MAN WHO MISSED HIS CROSS.
The events surrounding the man named Barabbas give us a perfect
picture of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ for us. The
writer of Hebrews wrote: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little
lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory
and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every
man.” What does the phrase mean “that he by the grace of God should
taste death for every man”? John Gill wrote: “Jesus suffered death in
the room and stead of his people; humbled himself, and became
obedient to death, even the death of the cross” (John Gill’s Exposition
of The Entire Bible). A missionary was speaking to a group of
fishermen in a little village on the coast of Labrador. He had told of
Christ's death on the cross and was trying to get the message of
salvation across. He wondered if he was getting anywhere, if the men
understood him, so he asked a question: "Will you tell me in your own
words what Christ did when He died upon the cross?" he asked.
"Yes," said a weather-beaten fisherman, tears coursing down his face,
"I just now saw what He did. He swapped places with me. He took my
place on the cross and left me here in his place, a man without sin in
God's sight. Oh praise His name!" (1 Peter 2:22-24). - Hazel D. Artis,
quoted by Robert G. Lee, SERMONIC LIBRARY, pp. 10-11.
If there is one man who truly knew what it meant to have Jesus
literally bear his cross and die in his place it was Barabbas.
Barabbas is also the one man with whom all of us can identify.
Although he is in the shadows when it comes to the crucifixion story,
Barabbas plays a major role. Having been convicted and then
released, he must have been in shock and amazement. The people
cried for Barabbas and called for Jesus to be crucified. For us to fully
understand and appreciate what happened that day we need to
understand the tradition in Jesus’ day. Notice five things with me
today as we think on the subject, “The Man Who Missed His Cross” :
(1) THE CUSTOM OF THAT DAY
MATTHEW 27:15-18—“ Now at that feast the governor was wont
to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.”
A. PILATE’S DILEMMA. According to Matthew and Mark’s accounts,
during Passover the governor normally released any prisoner the
people wanted. Matthew 27:15 tells us: “Now at that feast the
governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they
would.” Mark 15:6-8 says, “Now at that feast he released unto them
one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one named
Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with
him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude
crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.”
ILLUS: Now there is something we need to understand about Pilate,
because there is quite a discrepancy between the way Pilate is
depicted in the history books and the way he is depicted by the
writers of the Gospels. In the Scriptures, Pilate vacillates. He
is shifting, uneasy, seemingly eager to please the people—in
particular the Jews. The Pilate in the pages of history books
looks nothing like that. Pilate was an anti-Semitic Gentile,
Roman to the core. He was an absolute wolf for Jewish blood.
Because of that, he made no attempt to please the Jews…Pilate
answered to no one but the emperor. So in order for him to be
removed, it took the emperor’s edict…He was a hardened, cruel,
seasoned Roman official.
This is much more in keeping with the Pilate described in a
letter from Agrippa to Caligula, recorded in the writings of
Philo. Caligula was the emperor after Tiberius, and this is the
scathing testimony he received form Agrippa: “Pilate is
unbending and recklessly hard. He is a man of notorious
reputation, severe brutality, prejudice, savage violence, and
murder.” As a result, Pilate was “on report,” as we would say in
military terms. He was under investigation by Rome. The
emperor had ordered surveillance on this man, due to his
suspicion after reading reports about the governor. This
investigation was going on during the time when Jesus was on
trial. This explains why the otherwise unbending, brutal,
prejudiced Pilate seems so vacillating. This explains why he
doesn’t throw the Jews out of the palace when they come
asking for the death of Jesus…This hardened, Jew-hating
Roman cared nothing about public opinion, except when his
own neck was in the noose. All this seems confirmed by later
history. Pilate was eventually banished by Caligula to Gaul, a
distant region, far to the northwest of Italy, beyond the Alps.
There, he suffered what sounds like an emotional or mental
breakdown, and, ultimately, he committed suicide. This was
the man who would now decide the fate of the Son of God.
(Charles Swindoll. The Darkness and The Dawn. pp. 67-68).
Most of the time this custom was probably an annoyance to Pilate, the
anti-Semitic, brutal governor of Judea. But now, at this time, he
welcomed this custom as a way out of his dilemma. Why? :
1. Pilate Was Afraid. Pilate knew the Jewish leaders had trumped
up the charges against Jesus because they were jealous of His
power over the people. Matthew 27:18 says, “For he knew that for
envy they had delivered him.” John Gill wrote: “He saw in their
countenances, and by their charges against him, and by the whole
of their conduct, that it was not out of any regard to Caesar, or to
the peace and tranquility of the civil government, or to strict
justice; but from envy, at his popularity, at his fame and credit, the
honour, glory, and applause he had among the people, on account
of his doctrine, and miracles, that they had delivered him up into
his hands” (John Gill’s Exposition of The Entire Bible). He knew why
they had deliver up Jesus to him, but he also knew that if he did
not cooperate with these Jewish leaders it could cause problems
between him and Rome.
2. Pilate Was Unswayed. He did not really believe that Jesus was
guilty. Listen to what the Gospel writers write of him concerning
Jesus: Matthew 27:23 and Mark 15:14 tells us, “Why, what evil
hath he done?” Luke 23:14 tells us that Pilate declared, “behold, I,
having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man
touching those things whereof ye accuse him.” Luke 23:22 tells us,
“Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in
him…”. And in John 18:38—“I find in him no fault at all.” Pilate
was the only one which gave Jesus a chance to declare His
innocence. And in Matthew 27:24 the Scripture tells us, When
Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult
was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the
multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see
ye to it.” Having found in fault in Jesus Pilate washed his hands of
the whole matter.
3. Pilate was Dismayed. Not only was Pilate disturbed because He
believed Jesus was innocent, but also because he had been
warned by his wife who had a dream concerning Jesus. Matthew
27:19 tells us, “When he was set down on the judgment seat, his
wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just
man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of
him.” Pilate’s hope was that the custom of releasing a prisoner at
the Passover feast was the loophole of escape, but alas, it was to
no avail. Matthew 27:20 tells us, “But the chief priests and elders
persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and
destroy Jesus.”
Notice not only PILATE’S DILEMMA but also…
B. PILATE’S DECISION. Why did Pilate choose of all the prisoner’s that
were sitting in Roman cells Barabbas? Consider what kind of man
Barabbas was. We read in Matthew 27:16—“And they had then a
notable prisoner, called Barabbas.” The word “notable” means
“remarkable, eminent, of note.” Barabbas was a marked man. He was
“public enemy number.” He was more than just a common rebel
rouser. Barnes in his notes writes:“The word “notable” means one
that is “distinguished” in any way either for great virtues or great
crimes. In this place it evidently means the latter He was perhaps the
leader of a band who had been guilty of sedition, and had committed
murder in an insurrection” (Albert Barnes’ Notes On The Bible).
His name is also interesting. Barabbas is an Aramaic name. But his
name was not ordinary. “Bar” means “son.” “Abba” means “father.”
Thus his name would mean “son of the father.” Bible commentator
William Barclay notes that the name “may be compounded of Bar-
Rabban, meaning ‘son of the rabbi.’” (William Barclay, The Gospel of
Mark. p. 356). Probably meaning that he was the son of a famous
rabbi. If this were true, this would have made his criminal activities
even more notorious and notable. The Jewish historian Josephus
agrees with Matthew, stating that Barabbas was a notorious criminal
before he was caught (Charles Swindoll. The Darkness And The Dawn.
p. 87). Pilate, knowing the notorious criminal that Barabbas was, may
have thought that the crowd would rather release one who went about
doing good rather than one who was a murderer. Pilate thought surely
they would rather have Jesus released than a man who is a murderer.
But His plan backfired. His loophole became his noose! Matthew 27:
21 tells us, “The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the
twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.” Adam Clarke
wrote: “What a fickle crowd! A little before they all hailed him as the Son
of David, and acknowledged him as a gift from God; now they prefer a
murderer to him!” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary On The Bible).
We have looked at THE CUSTOM OF THE DAY but let us also see…
(2) THE CRIMINAL DESCRIBED
MATTHEW 27:16-17—“And they had then a notable prisoner,
called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?”
MARK 15:6-8—“Now at that feast he released unto them one
prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.”
- THE HORRIBLE CRIMES OF BARABBAS. According to Matthew 15:6-8 Barabbas had been arrested, tried and convicted of insurrection and murder. He was a robber, an insurrectionist, and a murderer. Insurrection is a rebellion against ruling authorities. Barabbas was not merely some sneaky thief but he was a murderer and a political revolutionary. He belonged to a group of Jews called Sicarri, the name meaning “dagger-bearers.” They were very violent and fanatical zealots who pledged to murder and assassinate by any means needed. Our equivalent today would be a “terrorist.”
ILLUS: Josephus (BJ, II, xiii, 3, xvii) relates that "there sprang up in
Jerusalem a class of robbers called Sicarii, who slew men in
the daytime, and in the midst of the city. This they did chiefly
when they mingled with the populace at the festivals, and,
hiding short daggers in their garments, stabbed with them
those that were their enemies. The first to be assassinated by
them was Jonathan the high priest, and after him many were
slain daily" (see also Ant, XX, viii, 6, ix). The name is derived
from Latin sica, "a dagger." The sicarioi were implacable in
their hatred to Rome and to those Jews who were suspected of
leaning toward Rome. (International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia).
- THE HOLDING OF BARABBAS. Each of the four Gospels state or imply that Barabbas was imprisoned and bound after his arrest by Roman authorities. It is likely that he wad held at the fortress of Antonia, which was a “holdingtank” for all the prisoners in Jerusalem. Jerusalem at Passover time was a very busy place. The streets were crowded, noisy and filled with people. Criminals also were prevalent so Pilate was in town to try and keep law and order. Pilate came with a battalion of Roman soldiers who were stationed at the barracks in the fortress of Antonia—the same stone building where Barabbas would have been held. It is likely that Pilate also stayed there.
1. The Pavement. John 19:12-13 tells us, “And from thenceforth
Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou
let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh
himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore
heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the
judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the
Hebrew, Gabbatha.” This Scripture speaks of the final trial of
Jesus. Pilate brought Jesus to a place called the “Pavement”.
Barnes writes: “This was an area or room of the judgment hall
whose floor was made of small square stones of various colors. This
was common in palaces and houses of wealth and splendor.
“Gabbatha” the Hebrew word means “the knoll”. The name given to
the place by the Hebrews was conferred from its being the place of
the tribunal, as an elevated place. (Albert Barnes’ Notes On The
Bible).
2. The Pronouncement. As Barabbas sat confined in the fortress of
Antonia his mind must have been on what was going to happen to
him. The distance from the fortress to the Pavement was
approximately 2,000 feet. There is no doubt that Barabbas could
have clearly heard the mob. Can the picture the scene with me?
Barabbas is shut up in a cold cell in the fortress of Antonia
awaiting his execution. He is pacing, angry, and afraid and
suddenly he hears the noise of the angry crowd at a distance. Are
they rioting? Perhaps they are trying to overthrow the Roman
guards and come to rescue him. Then suddenly, He hears his
name, “Barabbas…Barabbas.” From this distance Barabbas heard
the mob shouting out his name. But what did he hear next?
Matthew27:21-23 tells us, “The governor answered and said unto
them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They
said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with
Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be
crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But
they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.” Barabbas’
heart begins to pound. This is no mob of zealous Jews coming to
rescue him. This is a lynching party. Worse than that, a
crucifixion party. He couldn’t hear Pilate’s lone voice asking the
questions. All he could hear were the frenzied cries of the mob.
“Barabbas!”…And then, “Let him be crucified!” Suddenly he hears
the measured tread, the deliberate slap of leather against stone
pavement. Soldiers marching down the stone corridor, coming
toward his cell. Closer…closer they come. One of them swings
wide the door and growls, “Get out of here, Barabbas.” His heart
sinks. But then he hears, “You’re free to go.” Can you image his
shock? Barabbas, fully expecting the soldiers to come and take
him to be crucified, suddenly finds himself a free man! (Charles