Who is Barabbas? Our text informs us that Barabbas had taken part in an uprising. The other three Gospel writers give us more information. He’s identified in Matthew 27 as a notorious criminal; in Mark 15 as a murderer; and in Luke 23 as a murderer. So Barabbas was a political prisoner of sorts – but a very violent one!

His name is most interesting. “Bar” means “son of”; “Abba” means “father”. Put them together and Barabbas means “son of the father”. So, standing side-by-side that Good Friday morning with Pilate the Governor in front of this growing mob of people you have the Son of The Father and the son of a father! More specifically, you have the divine Son of the heavenly Father and a human son of an earthly father.

But the Early Church Fathers went a big step further! They said standing side-by-side that Good Friday morning was Jesus Christ, the son of the Father and all that is good. Next to him was Barabbas, the son of Satan and all that is evil – a murderer, a thief, a traitor – one who came to “kill, steal and destroy”.

And yet Pilate has the nerve to ask “Which one would you like me to release to you?” It’s sick! It’s sick, twisted, demented and beyond irrational. That’s why in his second sermon, Peter proclaimed this: “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.” (Acts 3:14) Now what kind of sin is that? That’s got to be the ultimate in blasphemy!
Here’s the choice! It’s between a lying, traitorous, murdering terrorist madman and a Holy, Righteous Man who had done no wrong. He had broken no law of man and no law of God. He had never taken anything that didn’t belong to Him. He had never defrauded anyone or oppressed anyone. He had never taken a bribe or a penny from anyone.

Even more shocking than the choice presented to the mob is the mob’s response. With astonishing rudeness and horrible judgment, they said, “No, not this man! Give us Barabbas!” Wh--at?!? Do you even know what you’re saying?

Welcome dear friends, to Home Church Langley! Give me Jesus! Give us all Jesus!