Have you ever wondered what happened with Barabbas after his release?
Barabbas appears in all four gospels as the prisoner released instead of Jesus—a choice made by the crowd under pressure and manipulation. His name, Barabbas, means “son of the father,” and in some ancient manuscripts of Matthew’s gospel, he is even called Jesus Barabbas, which would make the crowd’s decision all the more striking: they are literally choosing one “Jesus, son of the father” over another. Theologically, the moment is thick with irony and meaning. Barabbas, guilty of violence and rebellion, walks free while the truly innocent Son of the Father is condemned.
We know nothing about Barabbas’ life after this—no solid historical trace remains. Later Christian legends suggest he repented or watched the crucifixion in silence. But more than being a figure of history, he has become a symbol—of all who are guilty and yet find themselves inexplicably freed because Christ took their place. In Barabbas, we see the scandal of grace made visible.
Choosing the known felon over Jesus seems today to be an easy folly to avoid. And yet, let’s be clear: choosing Jesus is no easy thing. It is certainly the right thing. But to run full steam with this Messiah is to commit to his ways. With this in mind, sometimes the convicted felon may seem more reasonable.
The crowds may have shouted for Barabbas, but the choice wasn’t just theirs. It’s ours, too. We are invited every day to choose again: the way of power or the way of peace, self-preservation or self-sacrifice, the path of the sword or the path of the cross. And if we’ve chosen poorly or wrongly in the past, each day we yet have the grace-full opportunity to choose Jesus. Jesus doesn’t compel us by fear or manipulate us through force. He simply offers himself—still silent, still resolute, still walking toward suffering for the sake of love.
In that light, choosing him is no small thing. But it is the way of life, even if it must traverse death first.
Mark 15:1-15
At daybreak, the chief priests—with the elders, legal experts, and the whole Sanhedrin—formed a plan. They bound Jesus, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “That’s what you say.” The chief priests were accusing him of many things.
Pilate asked him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? What about all these accusations?” But Jesus gave no more answers, so that Pilate marveled.
During the festival, Pilate released one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. A man named Barabbas was locked up with the rebels who had committed murder during an uprising. The crowd pushed forward and asked Pilate to release someone, as he regularly did. Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” He knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of jealousy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead. Pilate replied, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call king of the Jews?”
They shouted back, “Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done?”
They shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”
Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd, so he released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus whipped, then handed him over to be crucified.
Psalm 25:1-6
I offer my life to you, Lord. My God, I trust you. Please don’t let me be put to shame! Don’t let my enemies rejoice over me! For that matter, don’t let anyone who hopes in you be put to shame; instead, let those who are treacherous without excuse be put to shame.
Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth—teach it to me—because you are the God who saves me. I put my hope in you all day long. Lord, remember your compassion and faithful love—they are forever!
Prayer
God,
I confess it’s tempting to choose safety, ease, and what seems reasonable. It’s tempting to avoid your costly way. But you don’t call me to what’s easiest. You call me to what is true. Help me not to be swept up in the momentum of the crowd — one way or the other — or the fear of what following you might require. Help me choose Jesus again and again. Not just in word, but in my heart, in my patterns, in my actions. Let your Spirit give me courage when the way is hard, and faith when the road feels uncertain.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.