WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.160 I'm going to read from one of the four gospel accounts. 00:00:04.040 --> 00:00:08.519 It's interesting that in these four biographies, Matthew and Mark and Luke and John, 00:00:08.980 --> 00:00:14.700 that each of the writers devotes a significant portion of the life story of Jesus 00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:18.219 to the final week of his earthly ministry. 00:00:18.580 --> 00:00:22.800 That week between Palm Sunday and today, Easter Sunday. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:27.920 When you look at the four accounts, the detail, the pace, 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:32.960 everything seems to be focusing our attention on these momentous occasions. 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:37.219 Luke is known as the historian of the New Testament, 00:00:37.620 --> 00:00:43.140 and he captures these key elements at the end of chapter 22 and into chapter 23. 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:50.540 I'm going to read these verses for us now from verse 66 of Luke chapter 22. 00:00:51.260 --> 00:00:54.540 At daybreak, the council of the elders of the people, 00:00:54.700 --> 00:00:57.859 both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together. 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:00.000 And Jesus was before them. 00:01:00.700 --> 00:01:02.880 If you are the Christ, they said, tell us. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:07.480 Jesus answered, if I tell you, you will not believe me. 00:01:07.900 --> 00:01:10.359 And if I asked you, you would not answer. 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:15.920 But from now on, the Son of Man must be seated at the right hand of the mighty God. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:19.659 They all asked, are you then the Son of God? 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:22.680 He replied, you are right in saying I am. 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:26.080 Then they said, why do we need any more testimony? 00:01:26.540 --> 00:01:28.360 We have heard it from his own lips. 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:32.640 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 00:01:33.060 --> 00:01:38.360 And they began to accuse him, saying, we have found this man subverting our nation. 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:44.000 He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ a king. 00:01:45.039 --> 00:01:48.280 So Pilate asked Jesus, are you the king of the Jews? 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:51.319 Yes, it is as you say, Jesus replied. 00:01:51.319 --> 00:01:58.399 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, I find no basis for a charge against this man. 00:01:59.039 --> 00:02:00.299 But they insisted. 00:02:00.819 --> 00:02:04.739 He stirs up all the people all over Judea by his teaching. 00:02:05.419 --> 00:02:08.539 He started in Galilee and has come all the way here. 00:02:08.539 --> 00:02:12.280 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 00:02:12.819 --> 00:02:20.120 When he learned Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:27.319 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:31.939 From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 00:02:32.359 --> 00:02:38.219 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 00:02:39.079 --> 00:02:44.199 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there vehemently accusing him. 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:47.939 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. 00:02:48.739 --> 00:02:52.139 Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 00:02:52.699 --> 00:02:56.060 That day, Herod and Pilate became friends. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:02:58.939 Before this, they had been enemies. 00:02:59.879 --> 00:03:04.919 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, and said to them, 00:03:04.919 --> 00:03:09.059 You brought me this man as one who is inciting the people to rebellion. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:14.719 I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 00:03:15.419 --> 00:03:18.379 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:21.939 As you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:24.759 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him. 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:29.179 With one voice, they cried out, Away with this man! 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:31.439 Release Barabbas to us! 00:03:32.259 --> 00:03:37.259 Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city and for murder. 00:03:38.239 --> 00:03:41.340 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:44.120 But they kept shouting, Crucify him! 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:45.239 Crucify him! 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:48.039 For the third time, he spoke to them. 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:48.759 Why? 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:51.679 What crime has this man committed? 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:54.939 I found in him no grounds for the death penalty. 00:03:55.579 --> 00:03:58.519 Therefore, I will have him punished and then release him. 00:03:59.219 --> 00:04:04.500 But with loud shouts, they insistently demanded that he be crucified. 00:04:05.359 --> 00:04:06.840 And their shouts prevailed. 00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:10.060 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 00:04:11.079 --> 00:04:14.979 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, 00:04:14.979 --> 00:04:21.420 the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:27.819 The events that late on Thursday into Friday were quite crowded. 00:04:28.719 --> 00:04:32.459 In a short amount of time, there were no less than four trials. 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:36.199 Two were religious trials in front of the high priest, 00:04:36.719 --> 00:04:43.680 and two were civil or criminal trials in front of Pilate and then Herod. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:46.180 You see, time was of the essence. 00:04:46.840 --> 00:04:48.040 This was a special day. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:48.879 It was a Friday. 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:50.699 The Sabbath began at sunset. 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:53.379 It was preparation day for Passover. 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:59.759 So if there was to be an execution, it had to be completed before sunset. 00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:04.800 And there were three men scheduled for execution on that day. 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:07.720 We don't know much about the other two. 00:05:07.899 --> 00:05:09.819 We know they were described as robbers. 00:05:10.300 --> 00:05:13.060 The third we have named here, Barabbas. 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:14.920 He was an insurrectionist. 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:17.120 He was convicted of murder. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:22.780 And these three, the two robbers and Barabbas, were scheduled for execution that day. 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:24.560 It's interesting. 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:27.600 When you look at eyewitness testimony, 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:34.379 no two people ever see the same thing in exactly the same way. 00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:41.719 In fact, it's one sure sign that there is a lack of honesty. 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:45.019 If two people tell the same story in the same words, 00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:49.860 you know that they have somehow collaborated to get their story straight. 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:51.420 I'll give you an example. 00:05:52.379 --> 00:05:54.540 1963, the 22nd of November. 00:05:54.540 --> 00:06:00.819 In 11 seconds, President John Kennedy was shot and killed on the streets of Dallas. 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:04.480 When the report from that event was published, 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:11.259 it took 26 volumes of the Warren Commission to detail what occurred before, 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:14.200 during, and after those 11 seconds. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:18.939 And no two people saw those events exactly the same way. 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:24.459 But people tend to remember the key elements of an event. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:29.360 They remember that on that November day, it was a beautiful sunny day. 00:06:29.500 --> 00:06:30.219 It was warm. 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:34.180 That the president and his wife were traveling in an open-top car. 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:35.139 They looked young. 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:36.100 They looked happy. 00:06:36.620 --> 00:06:39.819 And then everything changed in a moment. 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:43.040 Or rather, everything changed in 11 seconds. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:46.819 And the motorcade that was slowly making its way through the streets of Dallas 00:06:46.819 --> 00:06:50.160 sped quickly to the hospital, but it was too late. 00:06:51.780 --> 00:06:57.600 When we look at the gospel accounts of these last hours of the life of Jesus, 00:06:58.200 --> 00:07:02.220 we find that each of the authors, Matthew and Mark and Luke and John, 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:06.240 capture something different, something distinct. 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:10.000 But when they capture something similar, 00:07:10.280 --> 00:07:12.939 it draws our attention to that fact. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:17.500 And I'd like to speak for a moment this evening on this character called Barabbas. 00:07:18.280 --> 00:07:23.280 Because strangely, he appears in all four accounts by name. 00:07:24.100 --> 00:07:30.220 It's a very rare occurrence where an incidental character gets such coverage. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:34.720 Where he is included and highlighted by Matthew and by Mark, Luke here, 00:07:34.860 --> 00:07:37.560 and then John in his gospel account. 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:41.759 As a rule, if Matthew, Mark, or Luke capture something, 00:07:41.899 --> 00:07:44.560 John often doesn't, or vice versa. 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:50.819 But there must be something illustrative about this person called Barabbas. 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:53.160 And I'd like to consider a few things. 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:58.620 I'd like to consider first that Barabbas tells us something about ourselves. 00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:02.379 Something about human beings, human nature. 00:08:02.379 --> 00:08:07.860 You see, on this strange occasion, the crowd was worked up. 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:09.219 They were excited. 00:08:09.620 --> 00:08:11.319 They were emotional. 00:08:12.219 --> 00:08:16.459 There was a lot happening in this short amount of time. 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:22.399 Pilate, the governor, he's in a very unenviable situation. 00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:26.959 He knows that this particular prisoner called Jesus is innocent. 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:28.939 He has no doubt about that. 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:30.399 Three times he says so. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:33.860 His desire is to release the innocent man. 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:36.159 He has the authority. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:37.179 He has the power. 00:08:37.340 --> 00:08:38.480 He has the knowledge. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:42.720 And yet he doesn't have the will to do the right thing. 00:08:43.659 --> 00:08:46.139 How often do we find ourselves in that situation? 00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:46.940 We know right. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:48.240 We know good. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:49.659 We know what's true. 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:52.960 And we find it difficult to do the right thing. 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:55.120 Difficult to say the honest thing. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:09:00.159 Difficult to be, to know, and to do what we deep down know is right. 00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:03.919 So there's one last roll of the dice. 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:06.039 You see, there was a custom. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:13.560 On a big day like this day, the governor often released a prisoner to satisfy the crowd. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:17.220 You see, the last thing that the Romans wanted was a riot. 00:09:17.220 --> 00:09:21.860 That's why someone like Barabbas was so dangerous, because he was an insurrectionist. 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:26.920 He was convicted of stirring people up and of actually being involved in murder. 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:34.500 So this idea that the governor could release a popular prisoner really appealed to Pilate. 00:09:34.580 --> 00:09:38.840 This was the last chance that he had to get rid of Jesus. 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:43.420 He had tried to send him to Herod, but Herod didn't want anything to do with him. 00:09:43.419 --> 00:09:47.459 He had the authority to free him, but he was worried about the crowd. 00:09:48.179 --> 00:09:53.799 So he presented Jesus to the crowd, and the crowd with one voice said, 00:09:54.659 --> 00:09:56.479 Away with this man. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:58.860 Release Barabbas to us. 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:03.279 It's remarkable that on this occasion, they don't even see Jesus. 00:10:03.939 --> 00:10:06.120 They don't even give Jesus his name. 00:10:06.219 --> 00:10:07.959 They said, Away with this man. 00:10:08.099 --> 00:10:09.599 But they named Barabbas. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:10.599 Give us Barabbas. 00:10:10.599 --> 00:10:12.939 It's as if Barabbas is a popular hero. 00:10:14.419 --> 00:10:16.459 Barabbas was a dangerous man. 00:10:17.939 --> 00:10:21.120 This morning, I was preaching in Edinburgh prison. 00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:22.620 We had Easter services. 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:26.399 And there's 900 people in Edinburgh prison, give or take. 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:31.799 Most of the people there are men and women who have kind of lost their way in life. 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:36.699 But there are some who are genuinely dangerous. 00:10:37.359 --> 00:10:40.000 Some who are genuinely unpredictable. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:44.759 And some, you know, if they moved in next door, you'd be very tempted to move out. 00:10:45.099 --> 00:10:47.859 Because you would say, this is not the person I want as a neighbor. 00:10:48.219 --> 00:10:50.519 This is not a person that I want in my neighborhood. 00:10:51.079 --> 00:10:53.519 Barabbas was exactly that kind of person. 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:55.199 He was dangerous. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:58.560 He was a threat to others. 00:10:58.660 --> 00:11:01.280 He was a threat to society, but he was also a threat to people. 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:05.580 And the people say, give us Barabbas. 00:11:05.900 --> 00:11:07.180 Away with this man. 00:11:07.660 --> 00:11:08.640 Give us Barabbas. 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:12.820 Now, you see, the Bible tells us something interesting about us as people. 00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:16.520 The good news is that we are made in God's image. 00:11:17.060 --> 00:11:18.580 We are made to know God. 00:11:18.660 --> 00:11:19.920 We are made to worship God. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:21.219 We are made to serve God. 00:11:21.319 --> 00:11:23.679 We're made to love him and to love one another. 00:11:24.439 --> 00:11:26.759 And deep down, we know that God exists. 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:29.539 And deep down, we kind of know right from wrong. 00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:30.979 That's the good news. 00:11:31.459 --> 00:11:34.019 But the bad news is that we have fallen. 00:11:34.839 --> 00:11:36.479 There's something wrong with our minds. 00:11:36.579 --> 00:11:37.899 There's something wrong with our hearts. 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:41.419 There's something wrong with us at the very center. 00:11:41.839 --> 00:11:43.959 Where we do the wrong things. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:45.719 We know right and we do wrong. 00:11:45.839 --> 00:11:48.559 Or we know the right and we avoid the right. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:52.819 The kind words, the gentle actions, the compassion, etc. 00:11:53.719 --> 00:11:57.139 So Barabbas kind of shows us something about humanity. 00:11:57.699 --> 00:11:59.279 Not everybody is like him. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:02.259 But in a sense, everyone is like him. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:03.779 Because we failed. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:04.739 We've missed the mark. 00:12:04.819 --> 00:12:06.559 We are kind of guilty as charged. 00:12:08.059 --> 00:12:12.519 But Barabbas also tells us something about Jesus. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:17.000 Because sometimes when you're trying to understand something or someone, 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:19.980 it's kind of good to understand an opposite. 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:22.399 And you know, sometimes when you're learning a language, 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:23.759 you often learn opposites. 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:25.179 I used to teach English. 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:27.899 And in order to improve vocabulary, 00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:29.720 you would often look at adjectives. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:33.360 Tall and short and heavy and thin. 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:35.659 Good and bad. 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:39.059 Well, if Barabbas is illustrative of bad, 00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:41.500 Jesus illustrates good. 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:43.659 Jesus helped people. 00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:45.419 Jesus healed the sick. 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:47.740 Jesus gave sight to the blind. 00:12:47.939 --> 00:12:50.159 Jesus restored hearing to the deaf. 00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:52.039 Jesus enabled the mute to speak. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:56.719 The people who encountered Jesus were better off for that encounter. 00:12:57.240 --> 00:13:02.079 The people that encountered Barabbas were worse off for that encounter. 00:13:03.199 --> 00:13:05.039 You see, there's kind of two ways here. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:08.719 In the late 1960s, 00:13:09.579 --> 00:13:12.779 Frank Sinatra was about to retire as a singer. 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:15.579 He felt that nobody was interested in his music, 00:13:15.699 --> 00:13:17.319 that his career had come to an end. 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:21.279 But then the story goes that Paul Anker wrote a song for him 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:23.159 that became his signature tune. 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:26.899 And his career experienced a comeback. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.719 That tune, of course, was my way. 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:35.940 And in a sense, that tune, written 19 and a half centuries after the time of Barabbas, 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:41.160 kind of captures this man who was appearing before us. 00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:43.600 Barabbas did things his way. 00:13:44.160 --> 00:13:46.259 What he wanted to do, he did. 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:50.279 Jesus, on the other hand, did things God's way. 00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:52.160 He did things the right way. 00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:55.580 He did things that were kind and compassionate, 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.820 caring and thoughtful. 00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:59.760 Whereas it seems, all that we know about Barabbas 00:13:59.760 --> 00:14:02.420 is what he wanted to do, he did, 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:04.400 regardless of the consequences. 00:14:05.160 --> 00:14:06.720 So we have the way of Jesus, 00:14:06.900 --> 00:14:09.240 that which is good and right and pure. 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:11.280 We have the way of Barabbas, 00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:15.200 which is dangerous and hostile and deadly. 00:14:16.280 --> 00:14:18.120 But when it came down to it, 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:18.980 the people said, 00:14:19.140 --> 00:14:20.540 we prefer Barabbas. 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:23.740 We kind of like Barabbas to be released. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:25.500 And Pilate was at a loss. 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:27.139 What do you want me to do with Jesus? 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:28.659 What shall I do with Jesus? 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:32.399 And the answer was crucify, crucify. 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.779 He asked the crowd, 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:39.600 and he enabled the crowd to make the decision that was his to make. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.899 So he found himself in this unenviable position 00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:46.779 of looking for the crowd to answer Jesus. 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:49.079 When they answered Barabbas, 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:51.419 he was completely flummoxed. 00:14:52.079 --> 00:14:54.980 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 00:14:55.459 --> 00:14:56.419 He knew what was right, 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:58.139 and he did what was wrong. 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:01.059 This was the verdict that day. 00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:03.199 You see, the charge against Jesus, 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:05.500 the charges against Jesus were twofold. 00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:07.259 For the religious people, 00:15:07.319 --> 00:15:08.419 he claimed to be God. 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:10.519 And that, of course, must be blasphemous. 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:12.419 Because nobody can be God, 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:14.079 can they, and still be a human being. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:15.759 The second charge, 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:17.480 and this was the one that concerned Pilate, 00:15:17.540 --> 00:15:18.700 was the charge of treason, 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:21.139 because Jesus claimed to be a king. 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:23.460 And, of course, there's only one king, 00:15:23.520 --> 00:15:24.800 and that king was called Caesar. 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:27.020 And Pilate was Caesar's man. 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:31.379 So the two charges were both capital charges. 00:15:32.420 --> 00:15:36.040 And, yes, there were still now three prisoners on death row. 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:38.719 But instead of Barabbas and two robbers, 00:15:38.819 --> 00:15:40.879 it was Jesus and two robbers. 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:43.120 And they were taken to the cross. 00:15:43.199 --> 00:15:44.719 There were three crosses that were prepared, 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:47.259 and three crosses that were used on that day. 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:49.740 And these three men were crucified. 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:52.159 And if you're familiar with the account, 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:55.120 you'll know that something happened in that trio. 00:15:55.939 --> 00:15:58.779 I'll just read a few verses ahead in Luke's Gospel. 00:15:59.319 --> 00:16:00.719 Two other men, both criminals, 00:16:00.839 --> 00:16:03.679 were also led out with him to be executed. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:06.579 When they came to a place called the Skull, 00:16:06.699 --> 00:16:09.039 there they crucified him along with the criminals, 00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:10.879 one on his right, the other on his left. 00:16:11.719 --> 00:16:12.259 Jesus said, 00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:13.419 Father, forgive them, 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:15.259 for they do not know what they are doing. 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:18.439 And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 00:16:19.859 --> 00:16:21.339 The people stood watching, 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.559 and the rulers even sneered at him. 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:24.419 They said, 00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:25.179 He saved others. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.500 Let him save himself, 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:28.659 if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one. 00:16:29.219 --> 00:16:31.819 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:34.300 They offered him wine vinegar and said, 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:36.680 If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. 00:16:37.640 --> 00:16:39.980 There was a written notice above him which read, 00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:42.200 This is the king of the Jews. 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.120 One of the criminals, 00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:45.840 Anonymous, we don't know his name, 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:48.300 who hung there hurled insults at him. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:49.860 Aren't you the Christ? 00:16:50.020 --> 00:16:51.280 Save yourself and us. 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:53.860 But the other criminal rebuked him. 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:56.060 Don't you fear God, he said, 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:58.700 since you are under the same sentence. 00:16:58.700 --> 00:17:01.340 We are punished justly. 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:03.780 For we are getting what our deeds deserve. 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:06.160 But this man has done nothing wrong. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.220 The second man to say that on that day, isn't it? 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:11.059 It was Pilate who first said, 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:14.120 This man has done nothing that's worthy of the death penalty. 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.960 I find no basis for a charge against him. 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:19.519 But somehow on that last moment, 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:22.940 this crucified criminal next to Jesus 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:26.640 has this insight that he actually is. 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:28.200 Without sin. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:29.680 He's without guilt. 00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:31.220 He has done nothing wrong. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:34.380 And we, he said to his criminal pal, 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:38.500 we are getting what our deeds deserve. 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.279 Then he said, 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:44.460 Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:46.360 Jesus answered him, 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.500 I tell you the truth, 00:17:47.620 --> 00:17:50.779 today you will be with me in paradise. 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:53.440 So on the cross, 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:56.579 one criminal on one side, 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.839 one criminal on another, 00:17:58.420 --> 00:18:01.619 both at one point were ridiculing Jesus, 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:02.500 mocking Jesus. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:04.259 One then had a change of heart, 00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.259 a change of mind. 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.480 Turn to Jesus. 00:18:06.639 --> 00:18:09.480 Remember me when you come into your kingdom today, 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.339 says Jesus. 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:13.160 You will be with me in paradise. 00:18:14.399 --> 00:18:16.480 I want to suggest that Barabbas tells us 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:18.759 one other significant lesson. 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:21.400 He tells us something about humanity. 00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:24.379 He tells us something about Jesus by contrast. 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:28.660 And he tells us something about the gospel itself. 00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:29.779 You see, 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:32.539 the message of Jesus is counter-cultural. 00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:34.279 It's counter-intuitive. 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:37.019 You would never figure it out. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:42.039 Somehow that thief on the cross figured it out. 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:44.420 Somehow he knew that this man, 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:44.839 Jesus, 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:47.240 had the key to the kingdom. 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:49.440 Had the key to eternal life. 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.640 Had the key to paradise. 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:52.140 And in that last moment, 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:53.079 he turned to Jesus, 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.539 remember me when you come into your kingdom. 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:59.000 Somehow he knew that the sign above the cross, 00:18:59.120 --> 00:19:00.299 this is the king of the Jews, 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:01.740 was actually true. 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:04.019 That this king was being crucified. 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:06.420 This king was paying a price. 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.440 But what about Barabbas? 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.319 You see, 00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:10.740 the guilty man goes free. 00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:13.099 And the innocent man gets punished. 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:15.879 That's the strange, 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:18.059 unexpected message of Jesus. 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.339 Jesus, 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.079 the good, 00:19:20.219 --> 00:19:20.919 the right, 00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:21.719 the pure, 00:19:21.879 --> 00:19:22.419 the perfect. 00:19:22.959 --> 00:19:24.439 He is crucified. 00:19:24.939 --> 00:19:25.899 In the place, 00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:26.480 literally, 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.799 of Barabbas. 00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:29.219 The guilty man. 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.619 Guilty of murder. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:32.000 Guilty of insurrection. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.019 Guilty of robbery. 00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:35.839 The guilty man is set free. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:41.699 Pilate released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, 00:19:42.179 --> 00:19:43.519 the one they asked for, 00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:46.579 and surrendered Jesus to their will. 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:51.779 There was a preacher in the United States a generation or two ago. 00:19:52.159 --> 00:19:53.519 He was preaching in Philadelphia. 00:19:53.679 --> 00:19:55.659 His name was Donald Gray Barnhouse. 00:19:56.199 --> 00:19:58.819 And he used Barabbas as an illustration. 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.259 He said, 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:07.680 Barabbas was the only man in the world who could say that Jesus Christ took his physical place. 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:09.279 There was a substitution. 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:11.119 One in the place of the other. 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:13.559 There was a third cross on that day, 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:15.879 but that third cross was prepared for Barabbas. 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:18.099 He was the famous criminal. 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:20.859 He was the famous execution of the day. 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:24.720 But the cross that was meant for Barabbas was used for Jesus. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:26.720 So Barnhouse said, 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:30.319 Jesus Christ took the physical place of Barabbas, 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:33.720 but I can say that Jesus Christ took my spiritual place. 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:36.220 For it was I who deserved to die. 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:39.579 It was I who deserved that the wrath of God should be poured on me. 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:42.799 I deserved the eternal punishment of the lake of fire. 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:45.319 He was delivered up for my offenses. 00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:48.900 He was handed over to judgment because of my sins. 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:51.059 Christ was my substitute. 00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:55.259 He was satisfying the debt of divine justice and holiness. 00:20:56.159 --> 00:21:00.399 That is why I say that Christianity can be expressed in the three phrases, 00:21:01.179 --> 00:21:02.359 I deserved hell. 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:04.539 Jesus took my hell. 00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:07.000 There is now nothing left for me, 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.559 but his heaven. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:13.500 So the story of Barabbas may have been included because it illustrates so perfectly 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:15.019 the substitution, 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:17.240 the good in the place of the bad, 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:19.419 the bad in the place of the good. 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:21.600 Jesus should have been set free. 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.279 He was innocent, 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.300 but he was punished. 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:25.200 Barabbas should have been punished, 00:21:25.580 --> 00:21:26.860 but he was set free. 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:30.880 I was saying earlier that Friday was a busy morning. 00:21:31.580 --> 00:21:33.120 A lot was happening on Friday, 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:35.800 but by Sunday it was quite quiet. 00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:40.120 None of the famous people were present in the account that Luke gives. 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.740 Herod wasn't there. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.220 Pilate wasn't there. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:45.320 Chief priest wasn't there. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:48.000 None of the famous were there. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:50.599 But at the very beginning of Luke 24, 00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.740 we read this. 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:53.880 On the first day of the week, 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.599 very early in the morning, 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:59.859 the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.440 These were the women that cared for Jesus. 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:05.559 These were the women that were there at the crucifixion. 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:08.799 These were the women that were there when Jesus was buried. 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:12.160 And these were the women that wanted to show this last, 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:16.460 final expression of love and affection. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:20.519 And they went to the tomb very early in the morning. 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:23.980 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:25.599 But when they entered, 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.859 they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.619 While they were wondering about this, 00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:35.200 suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:36.639 In their fright, 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:39.440 the women bowed down with their faces to the ground. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:41.379 But the men said to them, 00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:44.220 Why do you look for the living among the dead? 00:22:44.760 --> 00:22:45.900 He is not here. 00:22:46.020 --> 00:22:46.800 He is risen. 00:22:47.520 --> 00:22:50.780 Remember how he told you while he was still with you in Galilee. 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:55.020 The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:56.400 be crucified, 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:59.920 and on the third day be raised again. 00:23:00.840 --> 00:23:02.580 Then they remembered his words. 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:06.340 So somehow Barabbas fit into this big picture, 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:08.980 fit into this complex tapestry. 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:11.339 The guilty man set free, 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:13.099 so the innocent man was punished. 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:15.259 But on that Sunday morning, 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:18.920 the first witnesses of the resurrection were these women. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:23.319 They went to the tomb to anoint the dead body of Jesus, 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:25.220 but they found that the tomb was empty. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:28.620 Luke is quite a remarkable historian 00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:31.740 because he captures in bookend 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:34.640 the most unlikely of witnesses. 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:37.180 At Christmas time, 00:23:37.300 --> 00:23:39.800 we often have a nativity and readings, 00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:41.120 and inevitably, 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:43.759 the children will play the part of the shepherds. 00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.080 There'll be the sheep 00:23:45.080 --> 00:23:47.820 and the shepherds who are watching their flock at night. 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:50.240 And they were the first witnesses in Luke, 00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:53.860 the first outside witnesses of the birth of Jesus, 00:23:54.060 --> 00:23:55.320 the arrival of Jesus. 00:23:56.080 --> 00:23:57.460 At the very end of the story, 00:23:57.560 --> 00:23:59.840 we see that these women who went to the tomb, 00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:03.200 they were the first witnesses of the empty tomb, 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.460 of the resurrection. 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:06.940 Quite remarkable. 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:09.240 In the ancient world, 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:11.740 shepherds were not allowed to give testimony. 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:13.900 They were considered to be unreliable. 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:16.720 So their testimony would not hold up in court. 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.559 In the ancient world, 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:20.380 in order to give testimony in court, 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.460 you had to be a man. 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.779 So the women's testimony here 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:25.200 would not be allowed in court. 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.140 And isn't it interesting 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:30.600 how God so often takes the ordinary, 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:33.959 puts the ordinary people at the center of the story 00:24:33.959 --> 00:24:36.740 to have the extraordinary testimony, 00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:40.319 the extraordinary testimony of the birth of Jesus, 00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:43.919 the extraordinary testimony of the empty tomb. 00:24:44.919 --> 00:24:46.679 The famous people aren't there. 00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.919 The ordinary people are there. 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:51.980 And maybe you and I are in that category of the ordinary. 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:53.919 Ordinary people, 00:24:54.439 --> 00:24:55.740 with ordinary problems, 00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:56.779 with ordinary hopes, 00:24:56.899 --> 00:24:57.959 with ordinary fears. 00:24:57.960 --> 00:25:01.140 But when we encounter Jesus Christ, 00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:02.680 when we encounter his birth, 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:04.100 when we encounter his life, 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:05.940 when we encounter his death, 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:07.539 when we encounter his resurrection, 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:11.400 we have had an extraordinary experience. 00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:13.600 But the question is, 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:16.380 how do you respond to such an experience? 00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:20.240 These women understood what had happened. 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:22.579 They remembered what he said. 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:25.340 And were told that when they came back from the tomb, 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:27.240 they told all these things to the eleven 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:29.339 and to all the others. 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:31.699 But they did not believe the women 00:25:31.699 --> 00:25:34.339 because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:36.879 It didn't make sense. 00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:40.059 You see, ancient people are not stupid people. 00:25:40.699 --> 00:25:41.559 In the ancient world, 00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:43.759 dead people had a tendency to stay dead, 00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:45.000 as they do now. 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:47.459 Two thousand years have passed 00:25:47.459 --> 00:25:49.099 and that tendency continues. 00:25:49.919 --> 00:25:52.599 But the Bible is unashamed in its presentation 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:54.359 that on that first day of the week, 00:25:54.439 --> 00:25:55.379 the tomb was empty, 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.439 the stone had been rolled away, 00:25:57.959 --> 00:25:59.379 there were messengers in the tomb 00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:00.319 to tell the women 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:02.419 that you're looking for the living among the dead. 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.439 He is not here. 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.539 He is risen. 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:08.639 And just as the four gospel writers 00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:11.659 tell us that Barabbas was part of the Friday story, 00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:14.719 not one of them mentions Barabbas again, 00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:16.839 which I think is quite curious. 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:19.579 We're left with a big question mark. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.639 What happened next? 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.959 What happened to Barabbas? 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.819 He was set free. 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:28.459 Did he go back to his life of violence, 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:31.659 of insurrection, of murder, of robbery? 00:26:32.699 --> 00:26:34.220 Was his life changed? 00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:35.240 We don't know. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:39.740 Much of the Christian life is kind of like that. 00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:43.619 We serve, we worship, we speak, we share. 00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:47.299 For me, I preach, you know, this morning, 00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:49.079 I preached to a lot of different people. 00:26:49.979 --> 00:26:52.879 I have no idea where they stand spiritually. 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:54.879 I have no idea what they believe 00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:56.119 and how they respond. 00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.039 God does. 00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:59.879 All we are called to do is to be faithful, 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.739 to share this good news. 00:27:02.679 --> 00:27:05.659 Barabbas had a personal encounter with Jesus 00:27:05.659 --> 00:27:07.179 on Good Friday. 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:10.000 He encountered Jesus as a substitute, 00:27:10.739 --> 00:27:12.259 an unlikely substitute, 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:13.839 and he was set free. 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:16.859 But I'll tell you something that's true about Barabbas. 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:18.440 He doesn't appear in the Bible again, 00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:20.980 but he will meet Jesus, 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:23.259 just like each one of us will meet Jesus. 00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:26.339 But there's only two ways in which we will meet him. 00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:28.960 We will meet Jesus either as Savior 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:31.359 or as Judge. 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:35.759 Barabbas had a unique experience with Jesus on the Friday, 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:40.099 but we will have a common experience with Jesus on that day. 00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:42.099 We aren't going to live forever. 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.559 There is an end, 00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:48.419 and there is a meeting that's scheduled between us and Jesus. 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:50.339 Jesus who died, 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.079 Jesus who was buried, 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:54.019 Jesus who was raised. 00:27:54.719 --> 00:28:00.219 My prayer and my encouragement is to trust in him now, 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:02.360 to receive him as Savior now, 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:04.539 because then we will never fear 00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:07.480 the judgment that will be coming. 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:10.880 We will have a Savior who rescues us from death. 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:13.860 We will experience that same substitution 00:28:13.860 --> 00:28:16.940 that Barabbas experienced spiritually. 00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:18.180 He experienced it literally. 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:20.220 We can experience it spiritually. 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:22.980 The guilty are set free 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:25.240 because the innocent man was punished. 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:29.720 This character of Barabbas fades into the annals of history. 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:31.680 But on that Friday morning, 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.640 there he was, 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:34.200 scheduled for execution, 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:36.460 and there he was set free. 00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:37.400 Why? 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:40.740 Because the innocent man was handed over to be punished. 00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.940 Jesus Christ died, 00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:45.000 but on the third day he was raised. 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.259 We have hope, 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.500 we have help, 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:48.700 we have comfort, 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:49.700 we have joy, 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.380 we have peace 00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:52.640 that is found nowhere else 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:54.259 than in Jesus Christ. 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.599 So we trust him. 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.879 We receive him, 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.759 we believe in him, 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:59.779 and we follow him along the road. 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:02.119 We don't take the way of Barabbas. 00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:04.240 We don't say it's my way. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:06.559 We say actually from this point forward, 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.740 it's Jesus' way. 00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:10.079 I'm going to follow the one who died. 00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:12.359 I'm going to follow the one who was buried. 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:15.379 I'm going to follow the one who was raised to life. 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:17.220 I'm going to put God first. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.940 I'm going to put others second. 00:29:19.379 --> 00:29:20.920 And I'm going to put myself third. 00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:22.980 When you encounter Jesus 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:24.660 and follow him along the road, 00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:26.920 he promises that he will take you 00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:28.019 from where you are 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.680 to where he is. 00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:32.340 So your life now is a movement forward 00:29:32.340 --> 00:29:33.920 and a movement upward 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:36.440 because of who he is 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:38.259 and because of what he has done. 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.840 Let us pray. 00:29:40.840 --> 00:29:42.300 Father, we thank you for your word, 00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:42.940 your truth, 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.660 your gospel. 00:29:44.100 --> 00:29:45.660 We thank you for the Lord Jesus 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:47.120 who lived and who died, 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:49.440 but who rose again from the dead. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:51.600 We thank you for this character 00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:52.480 called Barabbas. 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.880 We know very little about him. 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.400 We ask, Lord, 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.299 that we would learn 00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:57.519 that in Barabbas 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:59.180 we see a perfect illustration 00:29:59.180 --> 00:30:00.080 of the gospel. 00:30:00.860 --> 00:30:02.420 We are guilty as charged. 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:04.420 Jesus is innocent of all charge. 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:05.940 Jesus was punished. 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.840 The guilty can be set free. 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:10.000 Help us to place our trust 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.180 in the one who died, 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.700 the one who was buried, 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:14.059 and the one who rose again 00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.840 from the dead. 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:17.860 Help us receive the fruit 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:18.659 of his victory. 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.719 Victory over sin, 00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.759 victory over evil, 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.339 victory over death. 00:30:22.719 --> 00:30:24.879 So that we need not fear evil. 00:30:25.219 --> 00:30:26.919 We need not fear the grave. 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:28.439 We need not fear death. 00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:30.479 Because we have a strong 00:30:30.479 --> 00:30:31.959 and a triumphant Savior 00:30:31.959 --> 00:30:33.459 who will be with us 00:30:33.459 --> 00:30:35.079 from now until forever. 00:30:35.699 --> 00:30:36.779 And these are our prayers 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.879 in the name of Jesus. 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:38.959 Amen. 00:30:40.959 --> 00:30:42.319 Well, we're now going to sing 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.459 our final psalm, 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:45.119 which is from Psalm 87. 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:46.939 Psalm 87, 00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:48.699 and we'll join our voices 00:30:48.699 --> 00:30:50.599 to sing these words 00:30:50.599 --> 00:30:51.799 to God's praise. 00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.000 Amen. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.059 Amen. 00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:52.500 Amen.