Sometimes we make a choice that then affects all our choices from that time on. The choice to get married is like that.
Sometimes we have a difficult choice to make and we procrastinate - or try to get someone else to make it for us!
Pilate's term as governor of Palestine had been far from happy. His first action in the appointment had been to erect the Roman standards, bearing images of the Emperor, in Jerusalem. Because of the determined opposition of the Jewish leaders in spite of threats of death, he yielded to their wishes after six days and removed the images to Caesarea. Then Pilate used money from the Temple treasury to build an aqueduct to carry water to the city from a spring some twenty-five miles away. Tens of thousands of Jews demonstrated against this project. He sent his troops against them and a large number were killed. Later, because of these and other incidents, letters of protest were sent to Rome and Pilate would finally be ordered to go to Rome to answer the allegations.
Now here he was with the teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, before him. Undoubtedly, Pilate had heard of Jesus - an extraordinary person whose teaching and actions had stirred an angry reaction from the Jewish leaders. The politics of the whole situation were obvious to him. Because Pilate had been unpopular and because there had been official complaints, these Jews were trying to corner him. Well - he would examine the man and come to his own conclusions.
"King of the Jews" - that was his alleged crime. That itself sounds suspicious. None of my Roman officers has reported him. The accusation has come from his own people. He doesn't pose the slightest threat to Roman sovereignty. He doesn't even speak up in self-defence! I am quite sure that he is innocent of any crime. So... those Jews think they have me cornered this time. Well, two can play at the same game. I'll force their hand. I'll give them a choice that will force them to ask for this Jesus to be released. It will be their choice and they will then have to live with it. Hmm... Jesus... that gives me an idea.
At every Passover Festival the Roman governor was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner the crowd asked for. At that time there was a well-known prisoner named Jesus Barabbas - both the Good News Bible and the New Revised Standard Version give the name this way. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you? Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ (Messiah)?" (Matthew 27.17) The wording isn't so familiar to our ears, but it has reasonable textual support. And if the name Barabbas is taken to mean "son of the father", there's added significance to the choice being offered - do you want Jesus son of the father or Jesus called the Messiah?
Pilate knew that the Jewish authorities were jealous of Jesus. He was hoping the crowd would decide to ask for Jesus the Messiah to be set free. Then the Jewish authorities would have to accept the decision - and not blame him for it. Just then a message came from his wife. She had had a traumatic dream about "that innocent man" - please just let him go!
But Pilate was committed to his course of action. No turning back now! The people's choice would resolve the matter.
Meantime, the chief priests and elders were moving through the crowd - "Ask for Barabbas! Jesus of Nazareth isn't the Messiah! Call out for him to be crucified!"
The poisoned persuasion worked! The mob psychology went into action! The call for Barabbas to be released was deafening.
Well, what am I to do with this other Jesus, the one who is called Messiah? Crucify him! Crucify him!
Pilate washes his hands in front of them. He had wanted Jesus to be set free - perhaps as part of his power struggle with the Jewish leaders. But anyway - "It is your responsibility!"
Not so easy, Pilate! It's their choice and their doing, yet it's your doing too!
Have you ever wondered what happened to Barabbas? Boris Pasternak has written a whole novel about that speculation.
I wonder whether, having been set free, he became part of the crowd that witnessed the crucifixion, whether, in a special sense, he watched as Jesus the Messiah was dying on the cross that had been made specifically for him, Jesus Barabbas.
Barabbas was free.
He's innocent, Barabbas.
He died in your place,
For your sins, Barabbas!
If you had died, Barabbas,
Your death had been just,
Like your two friends there.
But he's innocent, Barabbas.
His death is not for his sins
But for yours.
If you had died, Barabbas,
The world had lost one criminal,
But in his death
You and the world
Have gained a Redeemer.
Drawn by fascination
Into the watching crowd,
Trying to be nobody,
Yet very conscious
Of himself,
Thoughts
Come crashing in
As that Man dies!
He is alive, Barabbas!
Haven't you heard?
The cross would have finished you,
But not Jesus!
That means
We haven't finished with him
By that cross.
They wanted you, Barabbas,
Instead of Jesus,
And he died instead of you,
But he was innocent.
He wants you, Barabbas,
Sinner though you are!
Won't you say to him,
"Not Barabbas but Jesus!"?
It is not told
What Barabbas thought of Jesus,
Or if this one
Who shared a name
Ever came to share a life.
Yet for us all
There stands a choice -
To choose the broken
Or the One who mends,
To choose the sin
Or sin's Redeemer!
Won't you say to him,
"Not Barabbas but Jesus"?
Pilate made his choice, even though he was rather "dodgy" about it. The crowd made their choice. That is all a matter of historical record.
Did Barabbas make a choice - a choice to turn around from a life centred on Barabbas and all that he had been, a choice to begin a life centred on Jesus the Messiah who quite literally died in his place?
Have you made your choice? Will you now centre your life no longer on yourself, your achievements and your brokenness but on Jesus Christ who died in your place on the cross?
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