Crucify Him – Luke 23:18-25

There has been quite a bit of discussion about whether the account of Barabbas being released could be true.  His name means son of the father, a meaning that seems made up to some.  But in fact, “Abba has been found as a personal name in a 1st-century burial at Giv’at ha-Mivtar, and it appears fairly often as a personal name in the Gemara section of the Talmud, dating from AD 200–400.”  It is asserted that no such tradition of a Roman ruler releasing a prisoner at the Passover festival is attested anywhere, but “An example of a Roman official releasing a prisoner on the demands of the people occurs in the Papyrus Florentinus 61:59ff. There the Roman governor of Egypt, G. Septimus Vegetus, says to Phibion, the accused: ‘Thou has been worthy of scourging, but I will give thee to the people’.  The evidence of this Roman custom is also confirmed in The Interpreter’s Bible, c. 1951, Vol. 7, page 594, where we read: “The custom of amnesties (a general pardon) at festival times is known the world over. It used to be said that there was no evidence for such a proceeding in Palestine at this time, but there is a Talmudical rule that a paschal lamb may be slaughtered for one who has been promised release from prison.” This can be found in an article by C. B. Chavel, “The Releasing of a Prisoner on the Eve of Pass­over in Ancient Jerusalem,” Journal of Biblical Literature, LX (1941), pp. 273-78.”

But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”—a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.  (Luke 23:18-25 ESV)

Pilate makes it clear that Jesus is not deserving of the death penalty.  Though his statement, “I have found in him no guilt deserving death,” is not meant as a statement of Jesus’ sinlessness, it is applicable.  The sinless lamb of God can die an undeserved death to take our place.  And representative of that substitutionary sacrifice is the release of Barabbas, someone definitely guilty of death.  We too, though absolutely guilty and deserving of separation from God forever, the ultimate death, have been released and set free because we have trusted in Jesus’ sacrifice for us.