Dead Man Walking?--It's Your Choice
In this special Easter-themed blog, Frank Figueroa reminds us that "Jesus was truly innocent, but He took the place of another on the cross! Yes, Barabbas went free, but the grace he received is merely an illustration of a greater, far more personal truth . . . you and I deserved to die on that middle cross. Instead, Jesus, the Lamb of God, died for us so that God could set us free from the penalty of our sin.
The Easter Season is upon us, and I have been thinking about what Jesus’ efficacious death and resurrection mean to us as believers. Not just pieces of evidence or truth claims and how that validates Christianity, but also what it means to us as recipients of undeserved forgiveness.
Let’s begin by reading a passage in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 27, verses 15–25,
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.
And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
As Pilate was about to carry out what he thought was going to be a “slap on the wrist” for Jesus by giving Him some moderate punishment and then setting Him free, another thought dawned on him . . . Since it was customary for the Governor to grant amnesty to a prisoner once a year during the Passover season to generate goodwill between Rome and its subjects, why not do this now and just release Jesus? This would have been a well-reasoned way out of his predicament in this situation since he didn’t honestly think Jesus was deserving of the punishment the Jews wanted him to dole out. (Pilate’s wife even told him that he should stay out of this entire ordeal.)
Pilate knew that Jesus was popular with most of the people. So, wanting to be the hero, he gave the people a choice, here and now, of who they wanted to release using this “amnesty program.” He attempted to make the decision a “no-brainer”: The people could have Barabbas, a notorious insurrectionist and murderer, or they could have Jesus. Any reasonable person with half a mind would have chosen Jesus because Barabbas was already on his way to being executed for his heinous crimes.
Something deeper was definitely going on below the surface as well. The name “Barabbas” means “son of a human father.” Jesus was the Son of our Heavenly Father. So, for these people, it came down to choosing the Son of God or the son of a man―to say that the crowd chose poorly would be the understatement of eternity!
How quickly we forget as people: Just the week before, they threw palm branches at Jesus’ feet and hailed Him as king. Now, they want nothing to do with God’s way and are vehemently choosing the way of man!
Decades ago, Chuck Swindoll preached a message that should force your perspective to experience this scene in a much more personal way . . .
Imagine if you or I were Barabbas. We are sitting in a dark cell waiting to be executed . . . Fear and agony setting in as our time to connect with the cross gets closer with each passing second. Maybe we could even hear the sounds of the riot erupting outside. We hear the crowd chanting, “Barabbas! Barabbas! The man Barabbas!” A moment later, the mob yells out with a unanimous voice, “Crucify him! Crucify him! His blood be on us and our children!”
Our blood starts to run cold. We sink lower into our dank cell awaiting the door to open and then to be led down “the last mile.” Within minutes that seem like an eternity, we hear the sound of soldiers coming down the corridor towards us. The guard’s keys start to jangle, and the door slowly opens for what may have been the first time in many, many days. We are then told, “Get up! It’s time for you to go!” As we make our way up to street level, we are blinded by the light coming from outside, as we have not seen the light of day for a very long time. We continue to ascend until we are led out of the main gate to the dungeon. We hear the gate slam shut behind us and just stand there for a moment, trying to gather our bearings and prepare for what is destined to come next.
But after a few moments, we realize we don’t have the guards leading us anywhere. We then rub our eyes to be able to see only to notice that we are standing outside, completely unshackled, and with no one around to execute the death sentence that had been pronounced on us . . . In short, we are free! After spending an unmeasurable amount of time in a cell barely big enough to contain us, we find ourselves in a vast world no longer held by all the things that once restricted us.
But now, spiritually speaking, this is no longer inference . . . Read what the Bible has boldly declared:
Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Romans 5:6–10
For when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
You see, you and I are guilty of sin . . . every single one of us! We have behaved in ways that dishonor our Maker. We have broken the commandments of the King, and our wrongdoing demands a penalty―that penalty is eternal separation from God in a place of torment! This is pure justice, and it absolutely cannot be set aside!
However, our Judge in Heaven has delayed the gavel long enough to share this simple truth:
John 3:16–17
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Jesus was truly innocent, but He took the place of another on the cross! Yes, Barabbas went free, but the grace he received is merely an illustration of a greater, far more personal truth . . . It was you and I who should have died on that middle cross. Instead, Jesus, the Lamb of God, died for us so that God could set us free from the penalty of our sin.
I want to conclude by asking you a serious question that we all are faced with: Are you, like Barabbas, a “dead man walking,” or have you gained access to new life by receiving the pardon Jesus offers and accepting Him as your Savior and Lord? The choice is yours.
To learn more about Frank Figueroa or to book him as a speaker at your upcoming events, please click HERE.
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Posted in Frank Figueroa Jr.
Posted in Frank Figueroa, Reasons for Hope, Easter, Resurrection, Matthew 27:15-25, Barabbas, Pilate, Mark 10:45, John 10:11, 1 Peter 3:18, John 15:13, Romans 5:6-10, John 3:16-17
Posted in Frank Figueroa, Reasons for Hope, Easter, Resurrection, Matthew 27:15-25, Barabbas, Pilate, Mark 10:45, John 10:11, 1 Peter 3:18, John 15:13, Romans 5:6-10, John 3:16-17
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