Isaiah 62:11-63:7/Revelation 1:5b-7/St Luke 22-23
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
“Look, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. I will therefore punish and release Him.” But they all cried together, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas.”
Pilate sought a way to deliver Jesus. He had a sort of pity on Him. He recognized the motives of the chief priests, rulers, and people. He did not know that Jesus is the Messiah, but he knows the priests are vindictive and Jesus is no threat. Three times he declared Him innocent. Three times he attempted to release Jesus.
And three times the crowd demanded for Jesus’ death. In the end Pilate, the prefect of Judea, veteran of Rome’s legions, was out politicked by the priests and the crowd. He should have heeded the advice of his wife.
And so Barabbas goes free. St Luke says that Barabbas had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder. St Matthew calls him a notorious prisoner (Mt 27:16). St John says he was a robber (Jn 18:40). In modern terms we would call him a terrorist. But even that is maybe too tame. He is a child pornographer, a serial killer, a rapist, the cause and perpetrator of the Holocaust, a killer of pandas and baby seals. He is whatever is most repulsive in mankind.
Theologically speaking, he is us. You and me. “Barabbas” is sort of a generic name. Literally it means, “son of a father.” Early manuscripts of Matthew’s Gospel list him as, “Yeshua, Bar-Abbas; Jesus, son of a father.” His first name is ‘Jesus’ We may call it dramatic irony. Barabbas was a true, historical figure.
Yet he is also the anti-Jesus, the epitome of all that is wicked and evil. Jesus, the true Son of the Father, is the innocent One, the righteous Man. He is a known healer and giver of food in the wilderness. Even when the Pharisees accuse Him of having a demon, they don’t believe it. Everyone knows that Jesus is good. But they demand His execution because He claims to be the Messiah, and that supposedly false claim make Him a threat to Caesar. Yet they insist that Barabbas, a man proven to be an actual threat to Caesar, be freed.
This is the insanity of sin! It calls good ‘evil,’ and evil ‘good.‘ This is the will of the devil. He is a liar and a murderer. And according to our natural birth, we are his offspring. As Jesus says, If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires (Jn 8:42, 44).
This spectacle is both profoundly deplorable and tremendously edifying at the same time. It shows the darkest depths of man’s sin. We release a violent criminal from prison and in his place kill our God! Kyrie Eleison!
And yet it shows the unfathomable depths to which our Lord goes to redeem us from sin and death. Christ is not a helpless, hapless victim. Indeed, it is the Father’s will that His Son die in the place of Barabbas, in the place of the chief priests and elders, in the place of the people, in your place and mine. For in this way God loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. As it is written, God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rm 5:8).
The true Son willingly submits to the Father, takes your place under the verdict, and lays down His life. He is more than a martyr. His death brings your life. His death is the atoning sacrifice for all the world and is the heart and will of the Father. He loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.
This day is historically called Spy Wednesday. It begins the events leading up to our Lord’s passion and crucifixion on Good Friday. Today Judas went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.
But even today victory is foreshadowed, even asserted. With wonderful song the Introit, even in these deepening hours, gives glory to the true Yeshua Bar-Abba, Jesus, Son of the Father, at whose Name every knee shall bow. Even the prophet Isaiah rejoices this evening proclaiming the return of the Victor, the Conquerer, who comes in splendid apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength, His garments spattered with the blood of His enemies, for He has taken vengeance upon them. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him.
Even now, beloved, you have been made sons of your Father who is in heaven. You are clothed in the garments of salvation. You are washed in the blood of the Lamb and shall be enthroned with Him. For it was the Fathers will and the Son’s desire that the thief go to paradise, that sinners be offered a place in heaven. The beloved Son was willing to give up His rightful place to make room for them and for you.
Behold, once again this evening, He brings Paradise down to you here in His Body and Blood. He is among you as One who serves. Behold this is your meat and drink indeed. His kingdom comes.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
“Look, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. I will therefore punish and release Him.” But they all cried together, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas.”
Pilate sought a way to deliver Jesus. He had a sort of pity on Him. He recognized the motives of the chief priests, rulers, and people. He did not know that Jesus is the Messiah, but he knows the priests are vindictive and Jesus is no threat. Three times he declared Him innocent. Three times he attempted to release Jesus.
And three times the crowd demanded for Jesus’ death. In the end Pilate, the prefect of Judea, veteran of Rome’s legions, was out politicked by the priests and the crowd. He should have heeded the advice of his wife.
And so Barabbas goes free. St Luke says that Barabbas had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder. St Matthew calls him a notorious prisoner (Mt 27:16). St John says he was a robber (Jn 18:40). In modern terms we would call him a terrorist. But even that is maybe too tame. He is a child pornographer, a serial killer, a rapist, the cause and perpetrator of the Holocaust, a killer of pandas and baby seals. He is whatever is most repulsive in mankind.
Theologically speaking, he is us. You and me. “Barabbas” is sort of a generic name. Literally it means, “son of a father.” Early manuscripts of Matthew’s Gospel list him as, “Yeshua, Bar-Abbas; Jesus, son of a father.” His first name is ‘Jesus’ We may call it dramatic irony. Barabbas was a true, historical figure.
Yet he is also the anti-Jesus, the epitome of all that is wicked and evil. Jesus, the true Son of the Father, is the innocent One, the righteous Man. He is a known healer and giver of food in the wilderness. Even when the Pharisees accuse Him of having a demon, they don’t believe it. Everyone knows that Jesus is good. But they demand His execution because He claims to be the Messiah, and that supposedly false claim make Him a threat to Caesar. Yet they insist that Barabbas, a man proven to be an actual threat to Caesar, be freed.
This is the insanity of sin! It calls good ‘evil,’ and evil ‘good.‘ This is the will of the devil. He is a liar and a murderer. And according to our natural birth, we are his offspring. As Jesus says, If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires (Jn 8:42, 44).
This spectacle is both profoundly deplorable and tremendously edifying at the same time. It shows the darkest depths of man’s sin. We release a violent criminal from prison and in his place kill our God! Kyrie Eleison!
And yet it shows the unfathomable depths to which our Lord goes to redeem us from sin and death. Christ is not a helpless, hapless victim. Indeed, it is the Father’s will that His Son die in the place of Barabbas, in the place of the chief priests and elders, in the place of the people, in your place and mine. For in this way God loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. As it is written, God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rm 5:8).
The true Son willingly submits to the Father, takes your place under the verdict, and lays down His life. He is more than a martyr. His death brings your life. His death is the atoning sacrifice for all the world and is the heart and will of the Father. He loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.
This day is historically called Spy Wednesday. It begins the events leading up to our Lord’s passion and crucifixion on Good Friday. Today Judas went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.
But even today victory is foreshadowed, even asserted. With wonderful song the Introit, even in these deepening hours, gives glory to the true Yeshua Bar-Abba, Jesus, Son of the Father, at whose Name every knee shall bow. Even the prophet Isaiah rejoices this evening proclaiming the return of the Victor, the Conquerer, who comes in splendid apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength, His garments spattered with the blood of His enemies, for He has taken vengeance upon them. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him.
Even now, beloved, you have been made sons of your Father who is in heaven. You are clothed in the garments of salvation. You are washed in the blood of the Lamb and shall be enthroned with Him. For it was the Fathers will and the Son’s desire that the thief go to paradise, that sinners be offered a place in heaven. The beloved Son was willing to give up His rightful place to make room for them and for you.
Behold, once again this evening, He brings Paradise down to you here in His Body and Blood. He is among you as One who serves. Behold this is your meat and drink indeed. His kingdom comes.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
RSS Feed