6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. ESV
Mark 15:6-15 What is the most historically unbalanced or unfair trade ever made? Some of you run to athletics & others to politics. Our text today in which Jesus-who knew no sin & was innocent took the place of Barabbas-who was a convicted criminal. That out punts any thought you had. Jesus was innocent & took the full punishment for the guilty as the Perfect Passover Lamb. The first death in God’s creation was some animals God killed to provide clothing to cover the guilt & shame of Adam & Eve’s sin. That substitutionary death pointed to a Messiah that would take all of God’s Wrath for the sins of men upon Himself. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us & being completely righteous He conquered death that those who believe might be called beloved sons/daughters of God! Believe!
