The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom 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 that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” 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!”
If we really want to understand the above passage we only have to look at one verse, written by Paul, in his letter to the church at Corinth.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
When the crowd yelled to Pilate, the governor, that they wanted sinful and wicked Barabbas to be released from prison and Jesus to take his place in death, the entire scene exemplifies that one verse, written 30+ years later. In Jesus’ death, Barabbas was given life. Jesus took on Barabbas’ sin and Barabbas was given Jesus’ life. Barabbas is a picture of that great exchange. When you and I come to Christ, Christ takes all of our in and we get new life, a righteousness given to us by Christ. The Jewish leaders may have thought they put an end to Jesus, but in reality they demonstrated His great act of death to life. The great exchange is the greatest gift mankind was ever given.
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