How can a man go free when he is guilty and he cannot pay his debt? Say a man committed a crime. Say it was a great crime. Even better yet, you could say that this man was guilty in a number of ways. This same man goes and stands before a judge to plead his case.
He tells the judge of all the good deeds he has done. He tells of the time that he helped mow people’s lawns for free. He continues on and tells this judge about how he has always paid his taxes and never lied about them. He tells of the time in which he even went to war for his country.
As the judge sits there patiently listening to all that this man has to say, eventually the list of good deeds ends, and the judge has an opportunity to talk. The judge then tells this man of the crimes that he has committed. At this point, the man intervenes and points back to his good deeds. The judge stops him and says, “I know what you told me and about all the ‘good’ that you have done. However, you still committed these crimes that I am bringing to your attention.” In this moment, the judge is concerned about justice, not necessarily about all the “good” this man has supposedly done.
A judge is in a position of authority to bring justice to the land. It is basically the primary focus of a judge’s position. In the book of Deuteronomy, God tells Moses, “Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee… they shall judge the people with just judgement… That which is altogether just shalt thou follow” (Deut. 16:18-20). Here, biblically, is what a judge is supposed to do: provide justice in the land.
So as this man approaches this judge and the judge brings up his crimes, the man cannot plead on account of his good works. Rather, the judge will convict the man for his crimes and give him a punishment that meets his criminal behavior.
In our case, the man’s punishment was a hefty fine of one million dollars. The man pleads with the judge and says that he cannot pay the money. He pleads on account of his family and on account of his job. Still, the judge must uphold justice and punish this man for his crimes. The judge tells this man that if he does not pay his fine, he will be required to go to prison and pay for it another way.
What is this man to do? How can this man pay his fine? He does not have the money. Nor can he borrow the money. He already tried pleading with this judge and bringing up his “good deeds.” The only option left is to spend time in prison. Well, that would be the only option – except there is yet another. If someone was willing to pay this man’s fine, then the judge would be appeased, and the man could go free.
In that very moment, the man’s brother rises from his seat and with boldness in his voice tells the judge, “I will pay his fine.” The judge accepts the payment, and the man is set free. Justice has been served. The man’s debt has been paid.
Barabbas or Jesus
The previous illustration is a fitting one as we approach the scene in which Jesus is standing before Pilate. In Matthew 27:15-26, the timing of this passage is the day of the Passover. The place is the Praetorium located inside Herod’s palace. The people are Pilate, Jesus, and a large number of Jews.
Pilate was the governor, also known as the procurator, of Judea. This meant that he was put in place to rule over the land, but he was also under the authority of the Emperor. Due to it being the Passover, Pilate was in town to maintain the peace during such a large event.
In Rome, the Roman authorities reserved the right to issue capital punishment. Therefore, when the Jews wanted Jesus dead, they were forced to bring Jesus before Pilate.
In Pilate’s position, he had to rule in such a way that would allow him to both please the Emperor and the people at the same time. Needless to say, he did not do a good job at this. The Jews hated Pilate. They also notified the Emperor of their disdain for this man. This placed Pilate in an awkward situation. He did not want an uprising to occur on his watch. He would have been held responsible, no matter how much it seemed like he wasn’t at fault.
While Pilate ruled Judea, he did so with a fear of the Jews at the same time. Out of this desire to appease the people, he most likely developed the practice that can be seen in Matthew 27:15. In this portion of Scripture, it says that, during the Passover, Pilate would release a Jewish criminal back to the people.
During this particular Passover, Pilate brings up his customary practice and introduces Jesus and Barabbas to the crowd. Jesus was an innocent man. Barabbas was a man who was guilty of committing robbery, insurrection, and murder. Barabbas was a notorious criminal. Jesus was a blameless man.
The people cried out to free Barabbas, but little did they know what they were saying. Barabbas means “Son of the Father.” The man they were calling out to set free was not the true son of the Father. Rather Jesus was the Son of the Father. Nevertheless, Barabbas was set free as Jesus stayed in his place.
This story depicts one of Christ’s greatest sufferings. Behind only that of the wrath of God lies the rejection of Christ. The cross did not cause Jesus as much pain as the rejection of His people. The cat of nine tails did not deal such a blow as that of the ones He came to save yelling, “Crucify.” It was not even the shame of it all but rather a broken heart that pained the Savior.
Jesus loves His creation to the point in which He was willing to step in the place of those who did not deserve to be set free.
Application
Look to Christ anew this day. Lay hold of Jesus. Thank Him for stepping in your place. Believe that He came to save you and that He has died for your sins. Believe that He has come to pay the debt that you owed.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to die for my sins. Please help me to cherish the work of Christ more in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.