Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
We’re All Barabbas

We’re All Barabbas

June 20, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - atonement, Barabbas, substitution

One of my favorite novels is Barabbas by Par Lagerkvist, winner of the Nobel prize for literature. The novel imagines what happened to Barabbas after he was released:

“He was about thirty, powerfully built, with a sallow complexion, a reddish beard and black hair. His eyebrows also were black, his eyes too deep-set, as though they wanted to hide. Under one of them he had a deep scar that was lost to sight in his beard. But a man’s appearance is of little consequence.”

Barabbas gives us a picture of the substitutionary nature of the atonement. After all, Jesus literally died in his place.

Barabbas was a robber (John 18:40), murderer, and insurrectionist (Mark 15:7) on death row, waiting to be executed for his crimes.

Then Jesus was arrested.

And that put Pilate in a quandary.

You see, Pilate wanted to release Jesus but he didn’t have the moral courage to do it. It risked further angering the Jewish mobs who were calling for His blood. For Pilate, politics, not morality, would win the day. But he wanted to clear his conscience, so instead of condemning Jesus himself, Pilate left the decision to the crowds. He made the mob a proposal. He would release one prisoner of their choosing—would it be Jesus or Barabbas?

Pilate probably thought the decision was obvious—by any reckoning, Barabbas was scum. No one would call for his release. But that’s exactly what the crowds did. “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” they cried (John 18:40).

So Pilate washed his hands,
released Barabbas,
and executed Jesus.

What a wonderful picture of the substitutionary nature of the atonement.

Barabbas probably didn’t believe in Jesus for eternal life. But Jesus still died in his place.

Barabbas probably didn’t even know Who Jesus was, but that didn’t stop the substitution from happening and benefiting him.

Jesus died so that Barabbas could live.

You’re Barabbas.
I’m Barabbas.
The whole world is Barabbas—
murderers and thieves at heart, if not in deed.

Nevertheless, Jesus died for you and me and took the penalty for us all, just as He did for Barabbas.

He was Barabbas’ substitute, and He was yours, too.

Of course, just because Barabbas was released, does not mean he got eternal life. The analogy only goes so far. Only believers get eternal life (John 5:24). But Jesus died for everyone, to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His death was substitutionary.

There are theologians who deny the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death. And should you ever come across that kind of teaching, I recommend you accept no substitute!

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Shawn_L

by Shawn Lazar

Shawn Lazar (BTh, McGill; MA, VU Amsterdam) was the Editor of Grace in Focus magazine and Director of Publications for Grace Evangelical Society from May 2012 through June 2022. He and his wife Abby have three children. He has written several books including: Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation and Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

February 3, 2023

Romans–Part 05–The Solution

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright and Ken Yates conclude this short series as they get to the good part of the...
February 3, 2023

Here’s Why Your February Partner’s Letter Will Be Late

We send a letter each month to those who financially support the ministry of GES. We call the newsletter Partners in Grace. We try to...
February 2, 2023

Romans–Part 04–The Problem

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Ken Yates and Kathryn Wright continue this short series about Romans. Jumping to Chapter 3, they begin with...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Grace in Eclipse: A Study in Eternal Rewards (Second Edition) $15.00 $8.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • Confident in Christ, 2nd Edition $22.00 $5.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • Grudem Against Grace: A Defense of Free Grace Theology $15.00 $10.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube