Matthew 27: 11-26 - Jesus died to make us true sons of the Father

As the account of Jesus advanced closer to its climax at Calvary, we see more people introduced into the scene. Jesus now faced Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor whose consent the Jewish authority would need to put Him to death. When asked by Pilate if He was the King of the Jews. Jesus did not deny but just said, “It is as you say.” Meanwhile the chief priests and elders continued to pour their drummed up accusations. Jesus remained silent much to the amazement of Pilate, who asked if He had no response to all the accusations. Jesus remained silent, like a sheep led to the slaughter, as Isaiah had put it.

The next person to be introduced is the main point of the whole passage. He was none other than the character named Jesus Barabbas. He was a brigand and was waiting for his death sentence. It was a custom that during the Passover, one of those notorious prisoners would be released. Pilate’s wanting to free Jesus and instead put Barabbas to death, was a clear demonstration that he knew the innocence of the Messiah deep inside his heart. But he did not want to offend the Jewish authority so he thought the swap would be a perfect arrangement – a truly guilty man for one without any guilt – would ease his conscience. Even his wife intuitively knew that Jesus was innocent and sent words to him. Though Pilate knew it, he chose to ignore his inner voice plus that of his wife.

It’s interesting to note that the name Barabbas means son of the father. Between Jesus and Barabbas, the person who was guilty of death was obvious. Pilate already found no incriminating evidence against Jesus and the choice should also be obvious. But Pilate was a coward. He dared not face up to his own conscience. So he turned the decision-making over to the crowd. The Jewish authority persuaded the people to demand for Jesus to be crucified when Pilate asked, “What shall I do with Jesus the Christ?” Goaded by the chief priests and elders, the crowd chanted “crucify Him, crucify Him!” The pun in the name Barabbas is clear. Know it or not, all of us have the nature of Barabbas and deserve the death sentence. But Jesus, the Son of the Father, went to the cross and died in our place so that we, represented by Barabbas, could be set free and truly become sons of God. Playing to the crowd, Pilate washed his hand and sent the true Son of the Father to be scourged and then crucified.

The point of Matthew in this passage is clear – Jesus is innocent. Everyone else is guilty – Judas, Peter, Barabbas, chief priests, elders, and now Pilate. And the Roman governor only showed the hypocrisy of the Roman justice. Pilate knew Jesus’ innocence, yet dared not set Him free. This set the perfect stage for the innocent Son of the Father to die for the sin of lost humanity, you and I included. He died to set us all free – free now to worship and serve only Him!