He Paid the Price

Jesus was arrested.  Barabbas was arrested.

Jesus was innocent.  Barabbas was not.

They were prisoners at the same time.

One would give life.  One had taken life.

Then one day, Barabbas heard something that sounded like his punishment had been sealed.

At the festival being held, it was a custom to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.  Some historians say that Barabbas was being held just far enough from the festival that it’s believable that he could hear the crowd, but not individual voices.

The Gospel of Matthew records Pilate asking the crowd which prisoner they wanted released.

The crowd yelled ‘Barabbas’.

Pilate then asked what they wanted him to do with Jesus and the crowd yelled ‘Crucify Him’ over and over.

Imagine Barabbas in his cell and all he hears is his name, followed by “crucify him”.  If so, he’s probably thinking his life was about to end.  He was about to pay for this wrongdoing with his life.  Imagine how he’s feeling in that moment.  Perhaps as if there was no hope for him.

Maybe he is so deep in despair that even though he expects someone at the door, he is startled and flinches as he hears the door start to open.  Maybe he doesn’t even look up because he knows this is it for him.

Then a guard walks in and says, ‘You’re free to go.”

Maybe Barabbas starts to stand up not fully processing what he was just told and then it hits him.

Can you imagine the feelings running through Barabbas’ mind?  He had to be confused, but even more so, he had to be more grateful than at any other time in his life. 

Every time I read that story in the Bible, I try to put myself in that prison.  I want to remind myself of just how much I deserve punishment for my wrongdoing and just how costly it was for Jesus to take that punishment on himself for me.

I want to remember that because I am Barabbas.  And you are Barabbas too.