We are continuing to think about the cross today, and I want to introduce another character into the story today. We’ve talked about the jewish leaders and about Pontius Pilate. But another character is introduced in John 18:39-40.

Pilate really did not want to kill Jesus. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. So, Pilate appealed to a custom of releasing a guilty man on the passover. In verse 39 Pilate says:

John 18:39 - KJV
39. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

Pilate was trying to get Jesus released. But listen to the jews answer in verse 40:

John 18:40 - KJV
40. Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Let’s think about Barabbas for a minute today:

Barabbas is a interesting name. In Aramaic, the name actually means “son of a father.” Really any of us could be a “son of a father” or a “daughter of a father.” It’s almost like naming someone “person” or “air breather.” It could apply to anyone.

And Barabbas was guilty. He was sitting in a jail cell, waiting for his just punishment. Already declared guilty. He was waiting to meet justice.

Imagine what it must have been like for Barabbas for a moment. Sitting there he could hear from some distance away a crowd cheering “Barabbas, Barabbas”, then silence. A few minutes later he would hear “crucify Him, crucify Him.” Then silence again.

Surely he thought it was his last day. He could hear the roman soldier coming, the keys unlocking the door, and then…he was set free. Someone else had taken His place. An innocent man took the place of a guilty man. The son of God, the son of THE father, took the place of the son of a father.

And in a way, Barabbas is a picture of all of us. All of us are guilty before God. There is none righteous, no not one. We are all sinners. We are all condemned.

And further, we are all in bondage, waiting for the day when God will justly punish us. We are already condemned, but one day, we will stand before God’s judgment seat to receive our punishment.

But the Son of God, Jesus Christ, He took our punishment for us. Just like Jesus was Barabbas substitute. Jesus is our substitute, bearing our sins on Himself on the cross.

That is the gospel. Jesus died as our substitute. Have you believed the gospel? Are you trusting in Christ for your salvation?