The Substitute

His name was Barabbas, meaning “son of the father.”   However, he was not the 
kind of man that would make his father proud.  Writers describe him as “a notorious prisoner” (Matthew 27:16), an insurrectionist, a rebel against the government of his day (Mark 15:7), a murderer (Mark 15:7; cp. Acts 3:14), and a robber (18:40).  He was found by the governing authorities to be GUILTY of these crimes, and having committed a capital crime, he deserved the DEATH sentence.  Since he lived in first century Palestine, occupied by the Romans and therefore under Roman law, his manner of death was to be crucifixion.

But, when the paths of Barabbas, “son of the father,” and Jesus Christ, Son of the Heavenly Father, crossed, the course of his life would change forever.  Herein, we 
see an illustration of the CONDITION of ALL mankind under sin and the sentence of death. We also see Gods SOLUTION for ALL who have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) everywhere proclaimed by the URGENT and VITAL message 
of the "GOSPEL" 

Observe some of the factors of Barabbas’ case and how they apply to each and every one of us.

Barabbas was guilty and deserved punishment for his crimes.  He was NOT an innocent man who was suffering unjustly for crimes that he did not commit.  He was guilty, and he deserved to die.  You and I are also guilty and deserve the punishment for sin.  Rebellion against God’s ultimate authority over life, in whatever form it manifests itself, is called SIN. 
The TRUTH is that  “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) AND “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  THEREFORE, ALL the world stands guilty before a holy God, and deserving of death.  There are NO exceptions.

Unless, that is, someone approved by God is willing to die in our place.

Jesus became Barabbas’ substitute.  Pilate, the Roman Governor, found nothing worthy of death in Jesus.  Nevertheless, the angry Jews cried out for His crucifixion.  Pilate had a custom that during the Jewish Passover, he would release one prisoner to the people as a show of good faith.  He offered them a choice:  Jesus or Barabbas.  The people chose Barabbas.  And so, Jesus was crucified in his place.

And in this "EXCHANGE OF LIVES" we see a picture of what Jesus actually did for 
you and me. Barabbas was WITHOUT HOPE - imprisoned and awaiting the sentence of death.  Apart from Christ, we too are WITHOUT HOPE - in bondage to SIN and under the sentence of death, looking forward with a fearful expectation of judgment.  God’s justice demands FULL payment for our sin, which is DEATH.  But in His mercy, He provided a Substitute for us.  On the cross, Jesus not only died in Barabbas’ place; He died in OUR place.

When you and I deserved to die in payment for our OWN sins, God “made Him who knew NO sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Scripture declares that Christ “Himself is the propitiation [or the Substitute who 
paid the price for] our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” 
(1 John 2:2).  Yet, NOT all will be saved from their sins (Matthew 7:13-14).  Why?  Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice MUST be accepted!  We accept Christ’s gift through our faith (Acts 16:31), repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confession (Romans 10:9-10) and baptism for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).

Jesus died YOUR death!  In His loving grace He took YOUR place in payment.

Will you accept God's Substitute?

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister 

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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