Lessons from Barabbas

By David Norfleet

In the dramatic moments leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus, we witness a profound injustice unfold—a narrative that resonates through the ages. As Jesus stands trial before Pilate, the decision to release Barabbas, a notorious criminal, instead of the innocent Savior stands as one of history’s greatest travesties. This moment, captured in the Gospels and Acts (Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39-40; Acts 3:14), invites us to explore crucial lessons that emerge from this painful story.

Life Isn’t Always Fair

The first lesson we encounter is the harsh reality that life is not always fair. In John 18:39-40, we see the stark contrast between justice and injustice, where the guilty are favored over the innocent. Ecclesiastes 9:11 reminds us that the race isn’t always won by the swift or the battle by the strong. Jesus faced this injustice with a heart full of humility, submitting to God’s will even when He could have called upon legions of angels for rescue (Matthew 26:53). This serves as a powerful reminder for us: in moments of hardship, we can choose to respond with grace, just as Jesus did.

Ignorance Can Lead to Wrong-Doing

Another lesson emerges when we consider the ignorance that fueled the crowd’s demands. Acts 3:13-18 reveals that many of the Jews acted out of a lack of understanding. Their religious fervor, devoid of knowledge, led them to reject the very Messiah they had long awaited. This illustrates a critical truth: when our faith lacks understanding, we risk making grave errors. They failed to recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, by allowing their own preconceptions to incorrectly interpret scriptures such as Isaiah 42:1 and 52:13-15.

The Danger of Blindly Following

The crowd’s choice to demand Barabbas’s release underscores the danger of blindly following others. Stirred up by the chief priests, they lost sight of justice (Mark 15:6-15). This scenario serves as a cautionary tale against the mob mentality that can sway us. Matthew 15:14 warns us not to follow those who lead us astray. It’s essential to engage critically with our beliefs and choices, rather than simply go along with the crowd.

The Loudest Voices Often Get Their Way

In moments of public pressure, we see how the loudest voices can dominate the narrative. Luke 23:13-25 illustrates how Pilate, faced with a tumultuous crowd, ultimately chose to appease them rather than uphold justice. This phenomenon isn’t unique to biblical times; it happens in our world today. Leaders often prioritize the demands of the loudest factions, as noted in Mark 15:15. We must remain vigilant against the sway of public opinion and be wary of the influence of the masses, as warned in Exodus 23:2 and Proverbs 1:10-15.

Hypocrites Are Blind to Their Hypocrisy

The hypocrisy of the religious leaders stands out starkly in this narrative. They accused Jesus of rebellion while failing to recognize their own similar transgressions (Luke 23:1-5). Their cry, “His blood be on us” (Matthew 27:25), reveals a troubling blindness to their own hypocrisy (Matthew 23:6-7; 15; 23). This reminds us that self-awareness is crucial; we must be willing to examine our own hearts before pointing fingers at others.

Barabbas Represents Every Sinner

Finally, Barabbas’s story resonates deeply with each of us. Like Barabbas, we are all guilty of sin (Romans 3:23). Yet, in a profound act of grace, the innocent Jesus took the place of the guilty, offering us the chance for redemption (Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 5:6-8; Galatians 3:13). Barabbas’s release symbolizes the hope that we, too, can be set free through the sacrifice of Christ.

Conclusion

As we reflect on the fate of Barabbas, we’re left with questions. What happened to him after his release? Did he remain unchanged, or did he experience a transformation? Perhaps he became a Christian, only to later stray. Or maybe he embraced the truth of Christ and lived faithfully until the end.

Ultimately, we are all faced with choices that shape our lives. Like Barabbas, we have the opportunity to respond to grace. The question remains: how will we choose to live in light of the profound gift we’ve received? Each path we take leads us toward our own story of redemption, and it’s a journey worth considering.

What Is Truth? - Part 2

By Boyd Hurst

In Part 1 of this article, we began to discuss how one should answer Pilate’s question “What is truth?”  We discussed how Jesus is full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:14) and is thus the purveyor of truth and we should listen to Him.  However, the devil is doing everything within his power to confuse and destroy the truth just as he did in the garden at the beginning of time.  We need to be mature enough to discern good from evil as we face the challenges of our increasingly ungodly environment.

Everyone surely realizes there are fundamental truths that do not change.  In the morning the sun is seen first in the east, 2+2=4, water at sea level freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F, etc.  God is like that according to Mal. 3:6 which states, “I am the Lord, I do not change.”  Daniel prophesied that the Roman empire would “speak pompous words against the Most High, persecute the saints of the Most High and intend to change times and law” (Dan. 7:24).  However, he goes on to say that this kingdom will be destroyed and the kingdom of the Most High will arise as an everlasting kingdom that all dominions shall serve and obey.  Not even the powerful Roman empire could change God’s law nor can any other.  It is not up to a nation or individual to determine what is truth.  God’s truth is always victorious and is a “lamp to my feet and a light to my pathway” (Psa. 119:105).  Jesus told His apostles that He would send them the Spirit of truth (Jn. 15:26) who will “guide them into all truth” (Jn. 16:13) and Jesus prayed for them to be sanctified by the truth of God’s word (Jn. 17:17).

Even though we may think we understand the principles stated previously, the Scripture teaches that the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8) and false prophets appear as wolves in sheep’s clothing (Mt. 7:15).  Just like Satan manipulated the language in Genesis 3 to entice Eve to sin, we see the same thing happening today.  Society has given the right for biological males to declare they are female and vice versa.  The medical world has assisted by creating drugs and surgical procedures that cause women to appear more masculine and men to appear more feminine.  As members of this society, we are called upon to address these “changed” individuals by specific pronouns, either the opposite gender or neutral to not offend them.  It is clear that these superficial changes have not rendered a fundamental change since DNA is still the same.   Also, male athletes who were only mediocre competing against males have risen to the top of women’s sports by declaring they are female even though they have obviously not lost their maleness.  Just as Jeremiah prophesied against Jerusalem when it fell into sin, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?  No!  They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush” (Jer. 6:15). 

When asked to define “woman”, the latest supreme court justice, Ketanji Jackson, refused to answer thereby underscoring the confusion that is being perpetrated by an ungodly society.  In fact, articles and even books have been written to try to define a woman according to the latest academic ideologies.  It used to be very simple (and still is), but it has been made very complicated in order to satisfy a current narrative/agenda.  It makes one wonder what the next redefinition of terms will be to contradict the clear and obvious meaning of a descriptive term.

This redefining of terms would be laughable if it was not so serious and detrimental to a belief in God.  The very fact that this is being embraced in our culture reveals the depravity that now exists.  When we condemn the practice of homosexuality and same-sex marriages, we are called homophobes because society has changed the definition of marriage such that it can be between a man and a woman or between two people of the same sex.  When we say only women can give birth, we are called transphobes.

At the creation, God created everything to serve His purpose and He proclaimed them good.  All things created were holy and distinct and perfect.  Male and female were created to complement one another and to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.  It is incredible that feeble men have the audacity to even consider the alteration of God’s plan.  Paul, in the Colossian letter, warned of this very thing: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and vain deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ”, Col. 2:8.  Just as the cucumber can be turned into a pickle by vinegar, we can be changed by this world if we allow ourselves to be immersed in it.  As Paul states in Rom. 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

It is time that we realize and proclaim that “truth” is not subjective.  In religion, there is not your truth and my truth or our truth and their truth, there is simply truth.  God’s truth is universal and absolute since He is the originator and purveyor of truth.  In answer to Pilate’s question “What is Truth?”, we can surely and confidently answer that God’s word is truth.  Let us all seek, find and courageously follow the truth of God’s word.

What Is Truth? - Part 1

By Boyd Hurst

You may recognize the title of this article is taken from Pilate’s reply to Jesus in Jn. 18:38. Jesus has just stated that His purpose for coming into the world was to bear witness to the truth and that everyone who is of the truth listens to His voice.  The question that Pilate raised, perhaps cynically, is a question that faces us daily in our current society.  Indeed, we need to embrace the idea of “truth” even more as we see the erosion of adherence to an absolute and true standard and the befuddlement of truth.

First, we must recognize that Jesus is the expert on truth.  In Jn. 1:14 we read that Jesus is “full of grace and truth.”   Jesus told His disciples in Jn. 8:31 that they would know the truth and the truth would make them free.  He uses the term “truth” seven times in this discourse emphasizing that He is the purveyor of truth, and they need to listen to Him.  The King of truth tells us how to be part of His kingdom, and it is this truth that will save us.

In Jn. 8:44 Jesus references how truth has been under attack by Satan since the beginning of time.  We all know the story of Gen. 3.  God had placed Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden, and they had a wonderful relationship with each other.  However, a choice tree had been placed in the garden, and God warned them not to eat it or touch it lest they die.  Satan enters and creates doubt by manipulating language and using lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life to entice Eve to sin. 

As someone has said, “sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden, it is forbidden because it is hurtful.”  In Isaiah’s prophecy against the northern kingdom in Isa. 59:14-15, he describes how truth was being maligned.  He states there is no justice or righteousness because “truth stumbles in the public squares” and is therefore “lacking.”  “And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.”  Earlier in the book of Isaiah we have the familiar woe pronounced upon those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, and who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter, Isa. 5:20.  Does this remind you of some in our current society who have chosen to redefine terms to satisfy their agenda?

Propagandists in power have long known that if you boldly lie to the public and loudly proclaim the lie often enough, you will convince many that it is the truth.  Or if the facts are ignored or suppressed along with the objections of some who are trying to expose the truth, then the lie will prevail.  It is clear that truth is not being reported today in the mainstream media, only the narrative that the media wishes us to hear.  Those who would try to speak the truth are deplatformed, shouted down and/or canceled, and their words go unreported…they have become a prey.

We need to be mature and able to discern between good and evil as exhorted by the Hebrew writer in Heb. 5:14. The apostle Paul instructs to “abhor evil and cling to good,” Rom. 12:9.  And also he states in Rom. 3:4 “let God be true and every man a liar.”  In our increasingly ungodly environment, we have a challenge to find truth.  However, the Christians in the first century faced similar obstacles as they dealt with the bias of the Jews and idolatrous pagans.  The gospel was not “good news” to the people of the day who were determined to continue in their ways in spite of the truth of the gospel.  We know that even within the early church there were Judaizing teachers wanting to hold on to the old law and Gnostics who introduced their own standard of religion based on the eradication of ignorance rather than sin.  They rejected the idea of creation by a supreme being and had various ideas about the origin and deity of Christ.  They promoted the freedom of the individual to develop their own philosophical view of religion which they referred to as enlightenment.  This is similar to the situation we find in the book of Judges where the statement is made that there was no king in the land at that time and everyone did was right in their own eyes (Jdg. 21:25).

People of my age and even younger are amazed at how rapidly our country is moving to the left or liberal side of the spectrum.  We have seen this tendency over the last few decades but are shocked at the current progression.  Certainly, one of the major contributors to this shift is the introduction of “Values Clarification” in the curriculum of public schools.  This idea is nothing but a thinly veiled cover for the “religion” of humanism, the objective of which is to do away with traditional beliefs that place God as the ultimate authority and replace this with the individual standard of each person.  The idea that “I’m OK, you’re OK” and “if it feels right, do it.”  Thus, if there is no objective standard, one can engage in immorality, theft or even murder if it is satisfactory by their standards.  By introducing these concepts in the minds of impressionable young students, it becomes a familiar philosophy that is embraced when the traditional values have either not been taught or emphasized enough by parents and Bible teachers.  (to be continued)