Barabbas Freed, Christ Crucified Unveiling Substitutionary Atonement | Matthew 27:11-26

Have you ever stood at a crossroads, faced with a decision that could alter the course of your life? Picture Jesus before Pilate, a scene charged with tension and choices with eternal ramifications. We're peeling back the layers of this historical encounter, analyzing not only the silence of Christ but also the clamor of a crowd choosing Barabbas over innocence. Dive into the complexities of political intrigue, religious manipulation, and the inner turmoil of a Roman governor caught in the storm. Our conversation bridges the ancient narrative with today's quest for truth and meaning, guiding you through a pivotal chapter in the story of redemption.

As the echoes of that historic trial linger, the episode shifts to reveal the staggering implications of Christ's sacrifice for each of us. Imagine being Barabbas—guilty yet set free—as we unpack the depth of grace found in substitutionary atonement. This isn't just a theological concept; it's a mirror reflecting our own liberation through Jesus' ultimate act of love. We'll challenge you to rise up, embracing the freedom gifted through the cross and to pour out that same selfless love in your own life. This episode is an invitation to transformation, a call to live with purpose and passion, spurred by the life-changing truth of Easter. Join us and find out how the narrative of Jesus can rewrite the story of your life.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

The following resource is brought to you by Real Life Community Church in Richmond, Kentucky. We hope you're both challenged and encouraged by this message from Pastor Chris May.

Speaker 2: 0:16

Matthew 27,. Beginning in verse 11, jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him are you king of the Jews? Jesus said you have said so. But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. And then Pilate said to him do you not know how many things they testify against you? But he gave him no answer, not even a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Speaker 2: 0:53

Now, at the feast, the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner they wanted, and they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. And so, when they had gathered, pilate said to them who do you want me to release for you? Barabbas or Jesus, who is called Christ? For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him have nothing to do with this righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream. And now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to destroy Jesus. And the governor again said to them which of the two do you want me to release for you? And they said Barabbas. And Pilate said to them then, what shall we do with him who was called Christ? What shall we do with Jesus, who was called Christ? And they all said let him be crucified. And he said why? What evil has he done? But they shouted all the more let him be crucified.

Speaker 2: 2:24

It's the word of the Lord. God, pierce our hearts with this word. Lord, there is a sweet spirit in this place. May your spirit help us hear the wonder and glory of this familiar text. Move us to a place today where we can even sing more honestly. Lord, you have our hearts. Let us leave this place going. Lord, have your way in me. Let us be wowed, awed again by the goodness and the glory and the beauty and the wonder and the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done. Though we heard the story of the cross many of us for decades, every year, every week of the year, normally, but God, let it be afresh to our ears today. Now pray these things in Jesus' name, amen.

Speaker 2: 3:43

I had a really well-crafted sermon. I'm going to preach the same text, but I'm going to preach it differently. Same message, but God's doing something. This morning, hunter, the one who is skeptical of these things, says I think he's 100% right, ron, does Word sit well with you? Okay, jerry. Okay, I don't think I have any others in here too. Let me just tell you that hasn't happened in eight years, probably. And honestly, can I just be frank, it makes me uncomfortable. But the Lord makes us uncomfortable, he pulls us out of our comfort zones, and so let me just explain. If you're new to this, let me just explain before I teach shortly what happened.

Speaker 2: 4:38

You can go read this in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12. Paul is writing about spiritual gifts, and one of the gifts is what we call tongues, and I don't like that word. It actually translates to languages. When you hear tongues it kind of freaks you out and it's like that's weird. But languages? If I preached in Spanish you wouldn't understand me, but it wouldn't be weird. Some of you might understand me. But so when Paul writes about this, he says in the church, he says when that happens, always have an interpretation. And so everything Bud took. The main word from the Lord is stop playing games. The commentary, bud, that was on his heart, I believe, not wrong, but I think the word of the Lord is what he stressed over and over. So, anyways, god speaks to us. There's mystery to that. So everybody, everybody with me on that, shake your head at me. Okay, if you have any questions, I'll be available after service, but let me just speak briefly on this text.

Speaker 2: 6:03

So the chief priests and elders this is Israel we saw last week. They came and accused Jesus of blasphemy because he called himself, he referred or implied especially that he was the Son of God. He claimed to be able to forgive sins, but his miracles actually backed up what he said. He called the wind in the waves, he raised the dead, he cast out demons, did all of these things, but they said, because of their envy and because he threatened their kingdom and their power, they charged him with blasphemy which is condemnable to death. But they can't carry this sentence out. So what they do is they take him to the Roman governor in Judea and they take him before Pilate, this governor, and there's a trial with no time for preparation.

Speaker 2: 7:33

And so Jesus now stands before Pilate and let's read the question that Pilate asked him is are you king of the Jews? Are you king of the Jews? The reason this is the question he asked, and not are you the son of God, because Pilate's a pagan and cares not about blasphemy and care if Jesus is blasphemous towards the Jewish God? What he cares about is any threat to Caesar, any threat to Rome, okay. And so the chief priests and elders to the governor, the Roman officials, they're not so worried about accusing him of blasphemy, but what they say is he's guilty of sedition or rebelling against the Roman powers, and that is condemnable to death. These are the religious people who are accusing him of this, and yet they're so far from the Lord. So when they had gathered, or, I'm sorry, when he was accused verse 12, by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. And then Pilate said to him do you not hear how many things they testify against you? But he gave no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Speaker 2: 9:17

Now John's gospel draws this out a little more and Pilate asked Jesus, are you king of the Jews? He says you said so. But Jesus goes on and gives some commentary. He says my kingdom's not of this world. In other words, I didn't come like the Jews wanted, by the way, to obliterate Rome and to overthrow Caesar. I came to bring the kingdom of God to earth and I didn't come to tear down the kingdom. As a matter of fact, I came to save Caesar in every Jew, in every Greek, in all of Judea, in all of the world. That's what he came for. And here's this pagan governor. And he knows, and his wife knows, that there is no guilt in Jesus Beloved. He never sinned, there was never a sinful thought, there was never a sinful word that he spoke, there was never a sinful action. No guilt could be found. So here's what happens. Look at verse 15.

Speaker 2: 10:44

And at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. So Pilate was not liked by the Jews. Their relationship had a lot of tension. Two times he had really offended the Jews. He brought these images of Caesar, these things that bore the likeness of Caesar, and he defiled the temple by bringing them into Jerusalem. He wanted. He was just out to get the Jews. And what's so interesting is Pilate thought that he was doing Caesar a favor. But actually Caesar was greatly upset at these things he did.

Speaker 2: 11:34

Pilate then took money from the treasury of the temple to build aqueducts Isn't that all crazy? And so he goes hey, this is going to help Rome Caesar. This time he's going to be pleased. But again, caesar wanted to keep peace with the Jews as long as possible, and so he just kind of left them alone as long as they stayed within certain boundaries of Roman rule. And so here's Pilate now, and here's what he's thinking. I know, this guy is innocent, and if I kill him, if I have him executed, caesar's going to be mad at me for this, and it's going to cost me my position, it's going to cost me my throne.

Speaker 2: 12:27

So he comes up with this great plan to kind of get on the good side of the Jews. He, every year, this tradition has come about where they'll release one prisoner. One prisoner during Passover will get to go free as just hey, don't be too mad at me, here's a, here's a prisoner for you. Don't worry about what I do the rest of the year. Here's something to just say I'm sorry. You know, rather than sending roses and chocolates, he releases a prisoner. And so here's what he's thinking in his mind.

Speaker 2: 13:07

He gives a choice between two prisoners, one Jesus and the other who Barabbas. And here's what he thinks. Barabbas, we know from when you put all the gospel accounts together. Barabbas is a insurrectionist, he is a robber, he's a, you know, he is a thief and he's a murderer. He is a horrible man. He's brutal, brutal. And so, on the other hand, so you have Barabbas in these.

Speaker 2: 13:40

Crowds of Jews are now gathered at this trial and they're hearing all of this and what pilot thinks is this Okay, they're not going to choose Barabbas the insurrectionists, because he knows about Jesus and he knows how Jesus has been received. Jesus, he wasn't an insurrectionist. Jesus went about having compassion on the multitudes, healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons, setting captives free, opening blind eyes. And here's the thing I would think that when people get a glimpse of the real Jesus, they tend to want him. They tend to want him, but that's not always the case. That's the way they would have responded.

Speaker 2: 14:34

The pilot says Barabbas or Jesus, which one do you want? Released. But the chief priests and elders? They would have chosen Jesus, I believe, because the scripture says they were convinced by the chief priests and elders, which tells me you better be careful who you listen to. Help me out somebody. You ought to be careful who you listen to. False teachers, false preachers, false prophets can greatly lead you astray. Be careful whom you listen to. And they listen, unfortunately, to the chief priests and elders and I say unfortunately, but understand, this is all according to God's plan.

Speaker 2: 15:24

And so Pilate, even after his wife tries to talk him out of it, don and Lynn Brabis wasn't a smart husband. He didn't listen to his wife and he says he says which one do you want? Because he should have just made the decision. He had the power. Pilate didn't want Jesus to die and he could have made that decision, but to save his own throne, he didn't listen to his wife. And he asked the crowd who do you want? And they said give us Brabis.

Speaker 2: 16:05

And then he says what should I do then with Jesus Beloved? That's the most important question you can ever ask and I want to ask you today what are you going to do with Jesus? What are you going to do with Jesus? Well, I believe in him and, ok, what are you going to do about it? What are you going to do with him? Are you going to do as we sing today, lord, I give you my heart. Are you going to be true to him? Are you going to buy into the cultural false mantra that says no, you need to do you. Are you going to follow Jesus? Are you going to do you?

Speaker 2: 16:48

And the sad part is, as Bud said earlier, some of you are playing games. You're coming to church, but during the week you're doing you, the crowds shout out to Pilate, ask what should I do with Jesus? Shout out, crucify him. Crucify him. Crucify him. The one who healed them, helped them, fed them thousands upon thousands, crucifying Verse 24,. So Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was being beginning. He took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying I'm innocent of this man's blood, see to it yourselves. And all the people answered his blood beyond us and our children. Wow. And he released for them Barabbas and, having squirts, jesus delivered him to be crucified. What does this mean for us? What's this mean for us?

Speaker 2: 18:10

There is a doctrine that you need to know in the church, called substitutionary atonement or penal substitution. I ask through the years I've asked many, many Christians why did Jesus have to die? And they say for the forgiveness of sins. And fair enough, that's very true. But why? Why do you see you have to die for the forgiveness of sins? Let me just explain it to you.

Speaker 2: 18:39

God is a loving God who wants, obviously desires, to forgive us. But he's not just loving, he's also just. Help me somebody. He's also just and according to God's law and his holiness, he says the wages of sin is death. Is there anybody in here that hasn't sinned? That means we all deserve to die and not just die, because the cup, as we studied in the garden, that Jesus is about to drink is not just physical death, but it is the bearing of the wrath of God, the anger of God for the sin and the disobedience of the world. The one who would never sin is about to go to the cross, and here's what he does in this text Barabbas, who is guilty of all the things that Jesus is charged up being an insurrectionist guilty of. Barabbas is guilty of sedition, rebelling against the Roman rule that Jesus takes the place of Barabbas. He takes the place of Barabbas.

Speaker 2: 19:53

The name Barabbas is made up of two words bar and Abba. Bar, abbas in the air, make, make language, which scholars believe was the main language of Jesus and the disciples. Those two words put together bar means son, son of Abba. What's Abba mean? Father, son of the father? Some manuscripts who has an NIV in here? Anybody? Okay, you have any IV. So you might see in your Bible that when Matthew introduces Barabbas or Barabbas, that he calls him Jesus Barabbas. That's because some manuscripts have that name as Jesus Barabbas. Now think about this. So we're talking about Barabbas, jesus, common name, right? Josh, son of the father, and you have Jesus Christ, son of the father, barabbas.

Speaker 2: 21:06

Barabbas, son of the father, deserves death. Jesus Christ, who's innocent, deserves life and blessing and honor and glory. But Jesus, the Christ, son of the Father, the Heavenly Father, stands in the place of Jesus, the Son of the Father, and becomes His substitute. You might remember from weeks past that Jesus says do you not think I could call legions of angels down at any time? My Father would deliver me from this. I'd wipe you all out in the Word, but he doesn't.

Speaker 2: 21:58

The chief priests and elders are accusing Him of horrible things and Pilate knows they're full of it. And the Bible says Matthew tells us Pilate is amazed because Jesus is making no defense for himself, because he knows that the cross is necessary. Do with me what you will, and he takes the place of Barabbas, who is the one that deserves to be on the cross. What's this mean to us? Look at me, we are all Barabbas. We're all Barabbas. People think, if I am good enough, the way that I'm going to get to God, get to heaven. If I'm just good enough, if I serve in charity, if I do these things, listen, then then then I'll get to heaven. God will accept me.

Speaker 2: 23:06

If the good outweighs the bad. What the Bible teaches is that, apart from Christ, we all deserve judgment because our sin is such a great offense to the holy, perfect God, the way of salvation, the way for the imprisoned. We're all bound by sin. The Bible teaches bound in that sinful, dead nature. The way to be released from that prison, so to speak, is not trying to do better. I mean Barabbas. At this point he can say you know what, guys, I'll clean the cells, I'll work kitchen duty and then maybe you'll let me release. No, his life was over. He was going to be brutally killed as an insurrectionist until Jesus steps in. Until Jesus steps in, the only way we can be saved is because Jesus, when he was on the cross, he became our substitute when he said my father, my father, why have you forsaken me? The worst part of the cross, I mean the physical pain, all of that is really bad and horrific, but it's that forsakenness bearing the punishment for our sins. So when you hear the Good Friday story this week, if some of you have watched the Passion and you've seen these scenes, that really can't ever truly express the horror of what happened that day. But you remember, it was supposed to be you on that cross bearing God's wrath eternally. But, jesus, you are Barabbas, I am Barabbas, and we're free today only because of the shed blood of Jesus. So I want you to go I'm almost done here Go to Romans, chapter five, with me. Romans, chapter five. We're going to begin in verse six. I want you to see this yourselves. Roman five, verse six Paul writing to the church in Rome. For while we were still weak, at the right time, christ died for the who, the ungodly. He died for the ungodly, for one will scarcely die for a person, though perhaps for a good person one would dare even die. But God shows his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, while we were still Barabbas, christ died for us. Since, therefore, we've now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved from him, from the wrath of God. I know you've heard it over and over, but listen. He took your place in bearing the wrath of God. Stuart Strachan Jr.

Speaker 2: 26:34

He covered a story that happened back in September 2013. It was during one of the most deadly terrorist attacks in terrorist attacks in history took place in an upscale mall in Nairobi, kenya. Sorry, jan's getting ready to go on a mission trip to Kenya. So four gunmen, part of Al Qaeda affiliate, took the lives of ono Khadsov and Piya Haida. Thank you for being with us. 67 people with over 200 injured In this upscale part of Nairobi. All accounts horrible, tragic disaster. But one story of the shooting ended up receiving media attention the story of a young mother named Snyna I'm going to try to get her name right Kothair Maashruh Shynna was at a mall having coffee with a friend when the gunfire began.

Speaker 2: 27:49

So, having dropped to the floor, she heard a cell phone go off. Not wanting the gunmen to come closer and hear the cell phone, she reached under the person next to her to silence the phone. It was at that point that she realized the man next to her was bleeding heavily. Here's what she says, quote when I put my hand under him, that's when I realized this guy had been shot because he was bleeding. In quote she said he was bleeding heavily. Lot of blood, pools of blood were there.

Speaker 2: 28:25

At this point the woman made a difficult, life changing decision. She decided here to smear that man's blood on herself. He was dead. She took his blood and smeared it all over herself In hopes that the terrorists would assume she was dead and would pass over his body. Her body and her grisly camouflage probably saved her life. She wrote quote. She said quote. I'd love to know who he was because I think his blood protected me, saved my life. In the quote, the only reason, the only reason you and I have life, is because Jesus bled and he died for us. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. And what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. And oh, precious, here's that flow that makes me white as snow. No other found time, no, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Speaker 1: 30:07

What are you going to do with Jesus? What are you going to do with Jesus?

Speaker 2: 30:13

Do you know this?

Speaker 2: 30:15

Jesus was our substitute and if you've received him by faith, believing in his death, bear on resurrection. If you've repented of your sin, do you know what you're called to? A life of substitution. You're called to a life of substitution, as Paul said. You're to be spanned and be spent for the good of others, the glory of God. That's it.

Speaker 2: 30:39

After Jesus was raised, a small group of people, small group of people began with 11 disciples and then spread the upper room. What? There were? 100, 120 people and they're against the Roman Empire who wanted to squelch Jesus, who they've heard as an insurrectionist. He's gone, we don't have to worry about it anymore. But now he's raised, they hear these testimonies and they want to stamp out the voice of these early Christians. But it spreads like wildfire and it continued to spread throughout the ancient world and we're here today because of it. And scholars have been baffled at how in the world, in that empire, the Christian faith could spread. And scholars agree, both secular and Christian scholars. You know how it spread. It spread because of the sacrifice of believers. How many, throughout the years, have risked their jobs and their lives, like literally their lives, to share the gospel with other people.

Speaker 2: 31:58

There's a sociologist, rodney Stark, and he concludes that the gracious response of Christians within the Roman Empire was a significant factor in the rapid spreading of our faith. He writes that in the midst of illness and famine, the early Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, risking their own health and livelihood for the good of others. And I want to read you this quote to close this out. Here's what he writes Sociologist heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ and with them, departed this life serenely happy. For they were infected by others, with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors. Drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains and listen to this Me in nursing and curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead.

Speaker 2: 33:07

Beloved, that's what we need to do today. If you know and you've received Christ as your substitute, you are now called. You can't atone for anybody, but you are called for the glory of God. I'm called for the glory of God to spend and be spent for the good of others. If you do not know Jesus today, I'll ask you what are you going to do with him? It's great. Lord, thank you for the sweet move of the spirit today, thank you for your word and thank you for sending Jesus. Jesus Christ, we say thank you for bearing the wrath of the Father, for becoming our substitute, and this Easter season, let us remember that each and every one of us, we are Barabbas. We are Barabbas, son of the Father, and we stand and we're free because Jesus, son of God, son of the Father, stood in our place. Lord, we give you our heart, we give you our soul, we live for you alone. We love you.

Speaker 1: 34:34

Amen. Thank you for listening. If you'd like to know more about how you can have a relationship with Jesus Christ, or if you have questions about our church, you can email us at info at myrealchurchorg. Real Life Community Church is located at 335 Glendon Avenue in Richmond, Kentucky. We invite you to join us for worship Sunday at 10.45 am or Wednesday at 7 pm. Visit us online at myrealchurchorg.