Fighting right: Jesus or Barabbas?
Martha Olawale
I’ve heard the story of Jesus and Barabbas told too many times to count. It’s at the center of every salvation discussion and the core of many Easter messages. The story stimulates empathy for a man who knew no sin and was condemned to a gruesome death. It channels our hearts to focus on the crown of thorns on Christ’s head and the blood dripping from every part of His body. It reminds us of the 39 lashes He endured before they paraded Him. It transports us to that day, standing with the crowd screaming “crucify Him,” while He stands silent, determined to take it all.
However, Barabbas was not just a prisoner either. Matthew 27:16 (KJV) introduced him as “a notable prisoner.” He was in prison for doing something that today would have earned him the support of many. To the Jews, he was more of a savior than Jesus was. He was a man, ready to take on the Roman establishment in his bid to ease the sufferings of his people. He fought for what was right—the minority—his clan. He was a hero! He was the Robin Hood of the Jews, zealous and fervent in his fight for freedom.
As I read Matthew’s account of the event leading to the crucifixion of Christ, I can’t help but notice the similarities in all that is going on in the world today. We have so many Barabbas fighting for “noble causes.” People clamoring for respect and the battle of the races to balance the equity equation.” And we’ve all adopted the “live or die” approach to things we are passionate about.
Why was this story not different? Why Barabbas, a hero? Why not a callous murderer who truly deserved to die? Like every story in the scripture, it carried more weight than the literal. Jesus stood before the crowd and they only had two choices. Choose an innocent man whose offer of love and salvation extends beyond the borders of Israel or choose a man whose life’s mission is to fight for an immediate gain; their right—their freedom.
Choosing Barabbas would have meant the death of a hero. A sad ending to a seeming perfect movie plot. The death of a man who champions a worthy cause. Jesus was an easier choice to crucify because although He was one of them, lived with them, taught them, served them; He was not like them and did not reason like them. He was different and did not say the things they wanted to hear. He promised a Kingdom they could not comprehend, made God too close for comfort and expects them to love their enemies—He was a bigger threat than the Romans.
The moment you accept the gift of His salvation, you choose Christ over everything and become part of a global force. You are no longer limited by the things that define you here on earth. You are a Christian carrying the emblem of Christ’s sufferings and the glory of His resurrection. You fight for what is right not because it’s viral and has a million views but because it touches God’s heart.
If our goal is to make Heaven, we need to shake off the Barabbas in our minds, fighting for a few when we are called to fight for all. Our churches must reflect Revelations 7:9-10, extending our love beyond people who only look like us, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
Yes, we should live for justice and fight for equality, but we must do so within the perimeters of our faith, fighting for what is right in the sight of God at all times, even if it means standing with people who do not look like us. Displaying the God-kind of faith, which transcends skin pigmentation, geography, physical disabilities, social class and worldly assets. A faith that puts us right beside Jesus, choosing death for an undeserving world instead of the approval and applause of a group.
When He walked this earth, there was more to Christ than the statistics that defined Him. He was more than a Jew, a man, a carpenter, a teacher, a good person. He helped a fisherman (Matthew 4:22), healed a leper (Matthew 8:1-3), raised a friend from the dead (John 11:1-16), responded to the need of a Roman soldier to heal his servant (Matthew 8:5-13). He dined with sinners (Mark 2:13-17), fed the crowd (Matthew 14:13-21), healed the sick (Matthew 8:16), ministered to a stranger (John 4:5-29). He stood for all, spoke to all and died for all.
All the people who shouted crucify Him might have believed they were leaving a worthy legacy for the coming generation. That they did the right thing choosing Barabbas over Jesus. They might have been proud, standing with “a hero.” But we know they choose wrong, condemning an innocent man to death.
Just because it’s popular does not make it right. Jesus was not crowd-approved then and sure isn’t now. Pause before you raise the next placard or wiggle your fist. Are you standing where God wants you to stand? Think of Pontius Pilate standing between Jesus and Barabbas asking, Jesus or Barabbas? Then make your choice—the hero Barabbas or the bloodied Christ.
Unless we understand where we stand as Christians and what our role is, we might end up fighting the wrong battles and joining in chants that break God’s heart. Martha Olawale
