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THE SAYINGS OF THE CRUCIFIXION (15)

 

KEEPING A CUSTOM:

Barabbas?  Or, The King of the Jews

(Matt. 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:38b-40)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    In our last lesson, Pilate and Jesus met in a private setting.

1.      Pilate questioned Jesus, and Jesus answered him.

2.      That meeting did not reveal anything to Pilate that caused him to view Jesus as guilty.

 

B.      In our lesson today, Pilate returns to the Jews and speaks to them (Luke 23:13-15; John 18:38b).

 

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:  no, nor yet Herod:  for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

 

I.                   A WAY OUT (Matt. 27:15-18; Mark 16:6-7; Luke 23:16-17; John 18:39)

 

A.    Notice that Pilate told the Jews that he believed Jesus was not guilty of death.  He also understood the rage of the Jews against this man.

 

B.      Because it was the Passover feast, he found a way out presented to him.

1.      Mark 15:6

 

Now at the feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

 

2.      Luke tell us that Pilate suggested Jesus to the Jews (Luke 23:16-17).

 

I will therefore chastise him and release him.  (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.

 

C.     When the actual presentation of the idea was made in its fullness, Pilate presented the names of two men (Matt. 27:17)

 

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?

 

1.      One was Jesus.

2.      The other was a prisoner named Barabbas (Matt. 27:17).

a.      Barabbas: 

1)      Meaning:  son of father

2)      Some believe that his surname was Jesus also. 

3)      Thus, his entire name was Jesus, son of a father.

b.      Three things are revealed to us about this criminal.

1)      He made insurrection (Mark 15:7).  Thus, he did not respect authority.

2)      He committed murder (Mark 15:7).  Thus, he did not respect human life.

3)      He was a robber (John 18:40).  Thus, he did not respect physical property.

 

D.    Both Matthew (Matt. 27:18) and Mark (Mark 15:10) tell us that Pilate knew the Jews delivered Jesus unto him out of envy.  He probably thought that if he set before them such an evil man along with Jesus they would choose Jesus.

 

E.      LESSON:  Leaders should not shirk their responsibilities, looking for an easy way out.

1.      Jesus was an innocent man.

2.      As the judge, Pilate should have pronounced Him innocent and released him.

3.      However, he knew the ramifications of doing this.  Thus, he looked for an easy way out. 

4.      The easy way is not necessarily the right way.  Too, the easy way does not always work out.

 

II.                A WARNING FROM PILATE’S WIFE (Matt. 27:19)

 

A.    After Pilate sat down on the judgment seat, a message was given to him. 

1.      It was from his wife. 

2.      It expressed a warning to Pilate.

 

…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.

 

B.      We are not given any details of the dream other than it involved Jesus.  Two things were communicated to Pilate.

1.      Jesus was a just man.

2.      Pilate should have nothing to do with him.

3.      LESSON:  Warnings are intended to be heeded.

 

C.     It is astounding how much information Pilate rejected on this occasion.

1.      His own personal interview of Jesus

2.      The decision of Herod

3.      Pilate’s understanding of why the Jews had brought Jesus to them

4.      The warning from his wife

 

III.             THE WORK OF THE JEWISH LEADERS (Matt. 27:20; Mark 15:11)

 

A.    When Pilate set the choice before the people, the Jewish leaders immediately went to work to influence the multitude.

 

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

 

B.      These were evil men with an evil agenda.

1.      They wanted to “destroy” the Christ.

2.      They lobbied on behalf of a very evil man named Barabbas to be released rather than a just and innocent man.

 

C.     LESSONS:

1.      Evil men will go to all lengths to get their agendas passed.

2.      There will always be those who either willfully or blindly will follow evil men.

 

IV.             THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE (Matt. 27:21-22; Mark 15:12-13; Luke 23:18-21)

 

A.    The Selection (Matt. 27:21; Luke 23:18).

 

Then the governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?  They said, Barabbas…And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.

 

1.      It is the wrong pick.

2.      It is a disgusting pick.

3.      LESSON:  The majority is not always right (See Exo. 23:2).

 

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil…

 

B.      The Sentence (Matt. 27:22; Mark 15:12-13; Luke 23:20-21)

1.      Pilate’s hope for an easy out came to an end.  The people selected Barabbas.

2.      Pilate still had Jesus on his hands.  Thus, he asked them what he was to do with Him “whom ye call King of the Jews”? (Mark 15:12).

3.      The people were loud and clear (Luke 23:21).

 

But they cried, Crucify him, crucify him.

 

4.      LESSON:

a.      People can be influenced to do some very horrible things.

b.      Crying for the death and destruction of an innocent human being is a depraved behavior.

 

V.                THE WEAKNESS OF PILATE (Matt. 27:23; Mark 15;14; Luke 23:22-23)

 

A.    When the people called for the crucifixion of Jesus, Pilate did raise questions about the matter (Matt. 27:23; Mark 15:14)

 

And the governor said, Why what evil hath he done?

 

B.      When met with the cries of the people to crucify Jesus, he would raise the question again.  In fact, he did so three times according to Luke (Luke 23:22).

 

And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done?  I find no cause of death in him:  I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

 

C.     Pilate seems to be bold, but he is manifesting weakness.  He was the judge.  He is the one who had the power of life or death.  He knew Jesus was innocent.  He should have immediately let Jesus go, but he would not.

 

D.    LESSON:  Strong leadership always does what is right, even in the face of adversity.

VI.             THE WASHING OF THE HANDS (Matt. 27:24-25)

 

A.    The Action of Pilate (Matt. 27:24).

1.      When his pleas for Jesus’ release did not work, Pilate pulled another weak, cowardly act.  He washed his hands from the situation.

 

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing but 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.

 

2.      The washing of his hands was a figurative action.

3.      LESSON:  We cannot cleanse ourselves from the things for which we are responsible.

a.      Pilate was the responsible judge in the matter.

b.      Pilate looked at the facts and knew Jesus was innocent.  (NOTE:  Even here he declares Jesus to be a just person).

c.       Pilate should have exercised his authority and released Jesus because He was an innocent man.

 

B.      The Acceptance by the Jews (Matt. 27:25).

 

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be upon us, and on our children.

 

1.      The Jews did not hesitate to take responsibility for this action.

2.      They were already guilty of a heinous crime.  They only added to their evil with these words.

3.      Notice that they asked for the blood to be upon their children as well.

a.      Today, we proclaim the Jews were responsible for killing Christ.

b.      Many of them try to deny it.

c.       However, their ancestors plainly caused them to be culpable in the murder of the Christ.

 

VII.          THE WIN FOR THE JEWS (Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:24-25)

 

And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him to be crucified.

 

A.    The Jews got exactly what they wanted.   They overcame a huge obstacle and were now able to bring about the death of Jesus.

 

B.      Jesus had predicted this would happen (Matt. 20:18-19).

 

C.     This was a victory for the Jews.  They were about to do away with a man whom they considered to be an enemy and a threat to their power.

 

D.    What the Jews did not know is that they were merely instruments in the hand of God.  They were really carrying out God’s eternal plan.

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    The trials are now over.

 

B.      Any hope for justice and the release of Jesus has come to an end.

 

C.     Jesus has suffered emotionally in the Garden.

He has been slapped several times.

The dial of affliction, however, is about to be turned up.

Jesus’ sufferings are about to become extremely intense.