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A Thief or a Savior?

 

In Matthew 27, we find the story of Jesus before Pilate.

In verses 15-17, we read: “Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

So, here we have Pontius Pilate, who was the fifth Prefect (or governor) of the Roman province of Judaea, from AD 26–36. And as it came time during the Passover feast for him to release a prisoner in his custody, he asks the crowd if they would rather have him release Jesus Christ, who had done NOTHING wrong, or release Barabbas who was a common criminal, and had obviously done much wrong.

Seems like an EASY choice to make. Here is Jesus Christ who has come as the Messiah to save people from there sins. He has traveled for the past three years all around the Judean area healing sick people, casting out demons, and basically giving his life to help others. And then, we have Barabbus. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about him. Matthew says he was a notorious prisoner. The Gospel of Mark mentions that he was also a murderer (Mark 15:7). And John also states that he was a robber (John 18:40). Barabbus was an evil person. He had robbed and murdered people. He had done NOTHING good it seems to help people. And in fact if he is released chances are he’ll go right back to doing what he had been doing before.

So, we might read with somewhat of a shocked response the choice that the crowd makes. “But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. But the governor said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’ Pilate said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘Crucify Him!’ And he said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they kept shouting all the more, saying, ‘Crucify Him!'” (Matthew 27:20-23) They chose the crook, the thief, the murderer over the Savior.

Now, obviously, Jesus being crucified and paying the penalty for our sins was part of God’s plan. However, that doesn’t justify the crowd’s actions. That people would choose a murderer and thief over someone who LOVED them enough to be willing to DIE for them is just mind boggling to me. But, yet we do the same thing today. We choose this world and it’s pleasures and sins over following Jesus. The crowd would rather Jesus be destroyed because then they could just go back to living their sinful selfish lives and not have to have him traveling around their region preaching they must repent of their sins. And many times, we would rather people stop talking about what we’re doing wrong. We’ve already made up our minds – we enjoy our sinful pleasures too much to let them go and follow God’s plan and will and desires.

In Joshua 24:14-15, Joshua is addressing the children of Israel and he tells them, “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Just like Pilate told the crowd, “Which one do you want? Jesus – the SAVIOR or Barabbus – the THIEF?” Joshua, said – “Okay, make up your mind. Who are you going to serve?”

If we choose Jesus, He will never leave us or forsake us, and He will supply all of our needs. If we choose this world, it will eventually stab us in the back and destroy us. Which choice are YOU going to make?

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