WHOM WILL YOU CHOOSE, JESUS OR BARABBAS?

A moment in history determined what we would understand as one of the greatest lessons on how our choices affect our freedom, and the eternal cause of humanity.

In Matthew 27:15-26 we read of the passion of Christ, as Jesus is on His way to the cross of Calvary. He is met with sorrowful rejection, standing on trial before Pilate. While heaven acquits for His freedom and justification, the rest of creation cries for His crucifixion. With the roman cross as a system of capital punishment for criminals, the Lord Jesus led himself into the hands of His accusers. He was like a sheep led to the slaughter in silence. The painful reality is that there was an opportunity presented to the crowds to release any of the criminals that were held as captives. However, amongst those that were held as captives, was a notorious prisoner called Barabbas (meaning:/ son of shame and confusion).

Religion and worldliness in uniform, shouted for the release of a prisoner who exemplified his name through acts of shame as a criminal. In exchange, the son of David who demonstrates deliverance and righteousness was hurled with insults. They sanctioned him for a gruesome death. In that moment, life was exchanged for death, peace for confusion, and freedom for bondage. There is an attitude we see in this narrative that confronts our choices in life. What do we do when opportunities that seem ordinary and yet have eternal consequences are presented to us? How should we respond in a godless society, what do we choose?

Let us draw some principles and truths from the passage about humanity based on their decisions and life choices:

1. The Governor/Pilate: Law, order, and justice in the hands of people is dependent on favouritism instead of virtue (Matt 27:15).
2. The Crowds: Envy blinds us from seeing freedom, deliverance and dignity when it is before us, whether in the person of Christ, or those whom God has sent (Matt 27:18).
3. Pilate: Men in power driven by appeasing others leads to compromise of principles and fair ruling (Matt 27:19).
4. Jesus Christ: Being righteous does not guarantee favour with men, it may possibly invite affliction from the wicked (Matt 27:19).
5. Pilate’s Wife: Public scrutiny and persecution may seem like one’s works are not making any impact or change, but our lives and testimony suffers evildoers (Matt 27:19).
6. Chief Priests & Elders: Religion and the appearance of spirituality is not a sign of God’s approval. The chief elders and priests rejected God, and influenced the crowds out of envy and self-righteousness (Matt 27:20)
7. The Crowds: What people mean for evil, God can use for good. They all shouted, “Let him be crucified!” and God used their evil intent, for His divine purpose of salvation.
8. The Crowds: When people have strayed from God and their hearts are corrupted, there is no room for godly reason or a conscience (Matt 27:23).

Whom will you choose, Jesus or Barabbas? What motivates your decisions? Who do you listen to? What is the end of your choices? Life or destruction? God’s Salvation or Man’s pleasure? Eternal value or earthly pleasure?

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 teaches us about choices: “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Jesus was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not (Isa 53:3). Yet He still chose God’s glory over His comfort. He chose obedience and God’s eternal promises over humiliation and pain. Therefore, those who choose Him, choose life, choose truth, and chooses the way He does things – at whatever costs. Let us make choices that do not give up Jesus over what is temporal.

©Comissioned |Br. Sibusiso Banda