Finding Forgiveness
So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. Mark 15:15
“What are the odds?” Perhaps Barabbas was thinking this as the guards brought him from his holding cell to stand in front of the riotous crowd. It was true and very likely that Pilate would release a prisoner. That was his custom each year during the feast (Mark 15:6). But who knows what was going through Barabbas’ head when they came to grab him, a murderer and known insurrectionist, to be the one offered his freedom?
We are not told. The crowd did not care. Pilate, in desperation, could not find a reason why they would want the brute released in place of the innocent Man he had just interrogated. But God certainly knew. Jesus knew as He stood there, condemned by the people and condemned by God. Even for a wicked man such as Barabbas, the Son of God, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, bore the punishment. He knew which direction the crowd would sway. He knew that it was necessary to be the sin-bearing Servant that God had promised to sinful mankind (Isaiah 53).
In His suffering and death, forgiveness was poured out and won for all people. Even those who sought to overthrow their rulers had the Ruler of all go forth to win the victory over their sins. Try as Pilate might, he was not going to change anyone’s mind that day. The people chanted “Barabbas!” so that he might gain his liberty and that Jesus would be condemned. But in Jesus’ condemnation, all sinners find liberty through His forgiveness.
A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth
The guilt of all men bearing;
And laden with the sins of earth,
None else the burden sharing!
Goes patient on, grows weak and faint,
To slaughter led without complaint,
The spotless life to offer;
Bears shame, and stripes, and wounds and death,
Anguish and mockery and saith, “Willing all this I suffer.”
The Lutheran Hymnal 142:1