May 1

Jesus and Barabbas

 

Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. ––Matthew 7:17-20

 

Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, and then  beaten and dragged between the ruling authorities of Jerusalem. First to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, then to Caiphas the High Priest, and then back to Pilate, who washed his hands of Jesus––both literally and figuratively. Pilate gave the mob a choice: release Jesus, or release Barabbas, a rebel who committed murder during an insurrection (Mark 15:7). Though it’s not mentioned in the Gospels, I believe Pilate was betting on the crowd choosing Jesus. He was wrong.

Barabbas must have been a person of some notoriety, as he is mentioned in all four Gospels. We know, of course, that the crowd—spurred on by the religious leaders—chose Barabbas, who was set free. It’s a stunning reversal from just four days earlier when Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph on the back of a donkey, the people placing palm fronds at his feet.

So what happened to Jesus’ popularity numbers in those 96 hours between Palm Sunday and Thursday evening, when He was arrested? I like to call it an expectation of the flesh: The mob missed the significance of Jesus as Messiah, and instead mistook Him as Jesus the freedom fighter who would lead His people to victory over their Roman masters. They realized He was not the latter, and they rejected His claims of the former. Interestingly, in some older manuscript versions Barabbas is called “Jesus Barabbas” (Matthew 27:16,17). It would be difficult to find a greater contrast than these two men.

Man of God, what is your view of Jesus? Are you seeing Him through an accurate biblical lens? Don’t accept a “Jesus Barabbas” counterfeit of the Messiah—a watered down Jesus, or a Jesus created by country or culture. How can you tell you are worshipping the authentic Jesus? By studying God’s Word, sitting under biblical teaching at a solid local church, and by surrounding yourself with godly men. Jesus Himself gives us the key in today’s verse: it’s all about good fruit.

 

That’s how you test the teachings and beliefs swirling around you: Does the teacher and teaching bear fruit that honors God and His Word? If it doesn’t, walk away. When you search for the fruit, the real Jesus rises above all the Jesus Barabbas’s around you.

Father, help me use discernment to separate the wise teaching from the bad. I invite Your Holy Spirit to guide me today and every day.