Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
At the great national Passover feast the Roman governor was accustomed to release to the people one condemned prisoner whom they chose. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and tried to use the custom to free Him by setting Him beside Barabbas, hoping the contrast would move the crowd to choose justice, though the custom itself was a pagan invention without justice in it. The choice set the innocent, righteous and merciful Son of God against Barabbas, a notorious robber and murderer, and stirred up by the priests and rulers the crowd demanded Barabbas and rejected Jesus. Though Pilate declared he found no fault in Christ, he delivered Him to the maddened throng and they crucified Him, while Satan led the abuse and angels witnessed men putting Him to open shame. That judgment-hall choice is repeated whenever people choose against Christ, for every person at the close of earth's history will choose either Christ and the truth or Satan and his falsehoods, and to reject the light is to reject Christ and crucify Him afresh.
Passover Release Custom
At the Passover feast, the great national festival, the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, a condemned prisoner, whom they chose. The custom gave the crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, and thus became the means by which the people rejected the innocent Jesus and chose a criminal for release. The verse belongs to the trial and condemnation of Jesus, showing the conduct of the professedly pious Jews when the Jewish priests and rulers pressured the Roman governor to carry out their will.
Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and tried to use the custom as a way to free Him, setting Jesus beside Barabbas and hoping the contrast would persuade the crowd to choose justice and spare Jesus. His use of the custom was a subterfuge, and the custom itself was a pagan invention without justice in it. The choice set the innocent, righteous, sinless, just and merciful Son of God and Creator against Barabbas, a notorious robber and murderer. Stirred up by the priests and rulers, and driven by prejudice and satanic influence, the crowd demanded Barabbas and rejected Jesus, preferring a murderer's company to Christ and turning the custom into the means to demand Christ's death.
Though Pilate declared to the maddened throng that he found no fault in Christ, he delivered Him into their hands and they crucified Him. Satan stood at the head of those who reviled and crucified Christ, leading the cruel mob in abuse to provoke retaliation or drive Him to free Himself by miracle, while angels witnessed men putting Him to open shame. The same crowd that had hailed Him as king turned against Him, reviled Him, and cried for His crucifixion, showing how fickle popular favor is. The crisis tested the disciples as their hopes and worldly ambitions were disappointed, but Jesus had prepared His faithful followers for this rejection so they would not be surprised, base their faith on others' opinions, or be drawn away.
Choice Repeated Today
The judgment-hall scene belongs to the closing events of earth's history, when every person must choose between Christ and Satan. The choice is between Christ, the Truth, and the message of God's commandments and the faith of Jesus on the one side, and Satan and his falsehoods on the other. To choose Satan's falsehood is to identify with the rebel and to turn away from the Son of God. At the feast the governor customarily set a prisoner before the people for release, forcing the decision between Barabbas and Jesus, the Son of God and Creator.
In that decision Barabbas stands for Satan, so that the people's demand for Barabbas over Christ is repeated whenever anyone chooses against Christ. Each person's actions make plain which one has been chosen. To choose Barabbas instead of Christ is to reject Christ when heavenly light is presented, for to reject the truth is to reject Christ Himself. He is the only provision for cleansing from sin, so such rejection is as crucifying Him afresh, and those who reject Him will answer to God for that choice.
At the great national Passover feast the Roman governor was accustomed to release to the people one condemned prisoner whom they chose. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and tried to use the custom to free Him by setting Him beside Barabbas, hoping the contrast would move the crowd to choose justice, though the custom itself was a pagan invention without justice in it. The choice set the innocent, righteous and merciful Son of God against Barabbas, a notorious robber and murderer, and stirred up by the priests and rulers the crowd demanded Barabbas and rejected Jesus. Though Pilate declared he found no fault in Christ, he delivered Him to the maddened throng and they crucified Him, while Satan led the abuse and angels witnessed men putting Him to open shame. That judgment-hall choice is repeated whenever people choose against Christ, for every person at the close of earth's history will choose either Christ and the truth or Satan and his falsehoods, and to reject the light is to reject Christ and crucify Him afresh.
Passover Release Custom
At the Passover feast, the great national festival, the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, a condemned prisoner, whom they chose. The custom gave the crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, and thus became the means by which the people rejected the innocent Jesus and chose a criminal for release. The verse belongs to the trial and condemnation of Jesus, showing the conduct of the professedly pious Jews when the Jewish priests and rulers pressured the Roman governor to carry out their will.
Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and tried to use the custom as a way to free Him, setting Jesus beside Barabbas and hoping the contrast would persuade the crowd to choose justice and spare Jesus. His use of the custom was a subterfuge, and the custom itself was a pagan invention without justice in it. The choice set the innocent, righteous, sinless, just and merciful Son of God and Creator against Barabbas, a notorious robber and murderer. Stirred up by the priests and rulers, and driven by prejudice and satanic influence, the crowd demanded Barabbas and rejected Jesus, preferring a murderer's company to Christ and turning the custom into the means to demand Christ's death.
Though Pilate declared to the maddened throng that he found no fault in Christ, he delivered Him into their hands and they crucified Him. Satan stood at the head of those who reviled and crucified Christ, leading the cruel mob in abuse to provoke retaliation or drive Him to free Himself by miracle, while angels witnessed men putting Him to open shame. The same crowd that had hailed Him as king turned against Him, reviled Him, and cried for His crucifixion, showing how fickle popular favor is. The crisis tested the disciples as their hopes and worldly ambitions were disappointed, but Jesus had prepared His faithful followers for this rejection so they would not be surprised, base their faith on others' opinions, or be drawn away.
Choice Repeated Today
The judgment-hall scene belongs to the closing events of earth's history, when every person must choose between Christ and Satan. The choice is between Christ, the Truth, and the message of God's commandments and the faith of Jesus on the one side, and Satan and his falsehoods on the other. To choose Satan's falsehood is to identify with the rebel and to turn away from the Son of God. At the feast the governor customarily set a prisoner before the people for release, forcing the decision between Barabbas and Jesus, the Son of God and Creator.
In that decision Barabbas stands for Satan, so that the people's demand for Barabbas over Christ is repeated whenever anyone chooses against Christ. Each person's actions make plain which one has been chosen. To choose Barabbas instead of Christ is to reject Christ when heavenly light is presented, for to reject the truth is to reject Christ Himself. He is the only provision for cleansing from sin, so such rejection is as crucifying Him afresh, and those who reject Him will answer to God for that choice.