Episode 605: Barabbas

Episode 605 March 17, 2023 00:10:00
Episode 605: Barabbas
1010 Thrive
Episode 605: Barabbas

Mar 17 2023 | 00:10:00

/

Show Notes

Barabbas is mentioned in all four gospels of the New Testament: Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:18–24; and John 18:40. His life intersects that of Christ at the trial of Jesus.

 

Jesus was standing before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who had already declared Jesus innocent of anything worthy of death (Luke 23:15). Pilate knew that Jesus was being railroaded and it was “out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him” (Mark 15:10), so he looked for a way to release Jesus and still keep the peace. Pilate offered the mob a choice: the release of Jesus or the release of Barabbas, a well-known criminal who had been imprisoned “for an insurrection in the city, and for murder” (Luke 23:19).

 

What happened to Barabbas after his release? The Bible gives no clue, and secular history does not help. Did he go back to his life of crime? Was he grateful? Did he eventually become a Christian? Was he affected at all by the prisoner exchange? No one knows. But the choices available to Barabbas are available to us all: surrender to God in grateful acknowledgment of what Christ has done for us, or spurn the gift and continue living apart from the Lord.

Other Episodes

Episode 388

May 04, 2022 00:10:17
Episode Cover

Episode 388: Make Disciples

Matthew 28:19–20 contains what has come to be called the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the...

Listen

Episode 853

March 06, 2024 00:10:00
Episode Cover

Episode 853: Darius

In today’s episode we explore the reigns of various rulers named Darius. We focus mostly on the Darius of Daniel 5 and 6, emphasizing...

Listen

Episode 767

October 31, 2023 00:10:00
Episode Cover

Episode 767: Labor and Rest

The importance of labor and rest is emphasized in both the book of Ecclesiastes and Jesus' teachings. Ecclesiastes outlines ten principles centered around life's...

Listen