Barabbas: The Exchange

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ signifies many things to the body of Christ. In it, we see the justice and the mercy of God. The justice of God because the wages of sin is death, and the mercy of God because He chose to die in our stead. He sent his son Jesus Christ to take upon himself the sin of the world, and to receive the condemnation that we were to receive. But Jesus Christ wasn’t just any human, he was God Himself in the flesh. 2 Corinthians 5:19 states that it was God who was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them.

This beautiful exchange on the cross is a demonstration of the mercies of God. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. We see this exchange signified in the life of Barabbas. Who is Barabbas?  Barabbas is a prisoner mentioned in all the four gospels. He was a notorious prisoner, murderer, rebel, and a robber (Matthew 27:16, Mark 15:7, Luke 23:19, John 18:40). He was supposed to be crucified along with Jesus Christ. But the Jews had a custom of requesting the release of one prisoner each year at the Passover. Pilate, who was the Roman Governor at that time, asked them if they wanted Jesus to be released because he found no fault in him but they insisted that Barabbas be released (Luke 24:25). They chose a criminal over an innocent man. 

Barabbas isn’t just a personality in the bible. Barabbas represents all of the human race, even the Jews who clamoured for Jesus to be crucified. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Also, Romans 5:12 says “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (emphasis mine). Because of Adam’s disobedience (Genesis 1-3), sin entered the world and affected all of the human race. But because of Jesus’s obedience on the cross, those who have received abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in Christ Jesus. Barabbas, therefore, represents the exchange that took place on the cross; where Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). And because Jesus took humanity’s place on the cross, we can receive life, freedom, wholeness and righteousness through him (Romans 5:19). It’s a beautiful exchange; the just for the unjust, the righteous for the unrighteous, the sinner for the saint, the godly for the ungodly.

It is worthy of note that Barabbas also didn’t do anything to merit salvation. As stated earlier, he was a criminal destined for death. He must have woken up that Friday morning expecting to be crucified only to be released because Jesus had been chosen to die in his stead. He was destined for death but he found life and freedom through another’s death, an innocent man’s death. Like Joseph Prince always says “we owed a debt we could not pay, but Jesus paid a debt he did not owe”. Salvation is a gift which can only be received by faith in Christ Jesus, which is by believing in what Jesus has done for us on the cross. It is not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Have you believed in Jesus Christ already? If you haven’t, you do not have to perish in your sin. You can enjoy the abundant life and freedom Jesus offers through his death and resurrection. All you need to do is receive him today. Say this with me “Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for me on the cross of Calvary. Thank you for this beautiful exchange that took place on the cross. I confess that I am a sinner and I believe you died for my sins and was raised for my justification. I ask you to come into my heart today and be my Lord and Saviour. I love you Lord, thank you for loving me first. Amen”

If you prayed this prayer with us today, we want you to know that you are saved. Romans 10:9 assures us that if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. We encourage you to prayerfully seek a local church, assembly, or congregation that will assist you in growing as a new Christian by the clear teaching of the Bible.

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