"and the word was made flesh and Tabernacled amoung us" John 1:14
Luke tells us that John the Baptist’s earthly father Zachariah served in the course of Abijah or Abia. In 1st Chronicles 24 David divides the priest into 24 courses which were assigned to minister in the temple. Each course served in the temple for one week twice a year. These 24 courses served 2 weeks a year so 24 x 2 covers 48 weeks of the 51 week Jewish year. The remaining three weeks were during Feasts and all 24 courses were required to minister those 3 weeks. The 3 feast where all were required to minister were Pesach (Passover/Feast of unleavened bread), Shavuot (Pentecost) and Sukkot (Tabernacles). The courses began serving on Nisan 1 (Late March to Early April on our calendar) which is the Jewish religious New Year. So the first course, which we know from 1st Chron. 24 was the course of Jehoiarib, always served the first week of Nisan, the second course the 2nd week, all courses served the 3rd week for the Feast of Passover/The Feast of Unleavened Bread; Course 3 served the fourth week; Course 4 the fifth week; Course 5 the sixth week; Course 6 the seventh week; Course 7 the eighth week; Course 8, which is the course Zachariah belonged to (the course of Abijah) served the ninth week and all courses served the tenth week for the Feast of Pentecost. So every year Zachariah’s course served two weeks in a row in the first part of the year. The course of Abijah served their course in the 9th week and the Pentecost course in the 10th week. Pentecost always falls on Sivan 6th which is early to mid June on our calendar
The main point is that Zachariah was ministering in the temple in the 9th and 10th week (early to mid June) so it was during one of those two weeks in early June when he was visited by the angle and told that Elisabeth would conceive John. So if Elisabeth conceived as soon as Zechariah returned home, then John the Baptist was conceived in early to mid June. Luke 1:26 tells us that in the 6th month of Elisabeth’s pregnancy, Gabriel visits Mary and explains that she will conceive by way of the Holy Spirit. So if John was conceived in early to mid June and we assume that Mary conceived through the Holy Spirit while or shortly after Gabriel visited her then Christ would have been conceived in early to mid December near or most likely on what had become Chanukah the Fwatival of Lights.
So if Christ was conceived in early to mid December, then Christ would have been born 9 months later in what would be early to mid September which would coincide with the Jews Fall Feast. Most likely the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) celebrated on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Tishri. John suggests this in his gospel when he says that the Word became flesh and Tabernacled amongst us. During Tabernacles all Jewish people were required to leave their permanent dwellings and stay in a temporal dwelling known as a Sukkah (The plural is Sukkoth which is where the holiday gets its name). These dwellings were representative of the dwelling the Hebrews stayed in during their wilderness wanderings. I would not be surprised if Christ was actually born in a Sukkah or Tabernacle. How fitting that Christ would leave his permanent dwelling and be born in a temporal one since this was his temporal home. The Tabernacle in the wilderness was where Yahweh came to dwell amongst his people. How fitting would it be that Christ would come to dwell among his people on the very Feast which commemorated this very event. John 1:14 says that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us”. The word dwelt here is skēnoō which literally means to abide or live in a tabernacle or tent.
Some other fun facts: The shepherds near Bethlehem tended to the temple flock and in turn watched over the sacrificial lambs. One night an angle appeared to them and instructed them to go watch over the ultimate sacrificial lamb, The Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
If Christ was indeed born on the feast of Tabernacles it is interesting to realize that the Feast of Tabernacles was a feast whose focus was rejoicing Deut 16:4 says “Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast.” During this feast the temple would be lit up by means of huge 75-foot candelabras, which stood upon the Temple Mount. These giant candlesticks held four huge bowls which were filled with oil. The priest would also dance around holding torches and the Temple musicians would sing and play music. Jewish sages are recorded as having said that “He who has not seen the rejoicing during the Feast of Sukkoth, has never seen rejoicing in all of his life.” Luke 2:10 says “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:13 says “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God” So if Christ was born on Tabernacles then here on the night of Christ birth we have Light Luke 2:9 and Joy Luke 2:10 and Praises being sung Luke 2:13 which is exactly what was going on in the Temple at that same time. The light emitted during these evenings the entire Temple Mount and the surrounding area so worshippers on their way up to Jerusalem could see these flames from miles around in every direction. During the Feast of Tabernacles in ancient times, the light from the temple lamps would be the only light visible in the darkness. John 1:4-5 tells us that “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” How fitting would it be that the Light of the World would be born during a feast in which the illumination of the temple played such an important role.
Another interesting aspect about these lamps is that the wicks which were used in the lamps were made of the priest’s old garments. The garments would be cut into strips to be used as wicks. Luke 2:7 tells us that Mary “brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes” It is interesting that the word in Luke translated as swaddling is sparganoō. Sparganoō is derived from sparganon which means strips. I would not be surprised if the strips used to wrap Christ came from the strips made from the old priestly garments.
There is another interesting aspect about the swaddling clothes. The Jews would take new born babies and wash them in salt water. This had a hygienic purpose since salt purifies, but it also had a symbolic purpose. The salted water was used to represent the hopes that as the child grew the child’s words would be salted and also that the child would be pure and also preserved since salt is also used as a preservative. After the child was washed they were wrapped in the swaddling clothes from head to toe. The swaddling clothes were strips of cloth wrapped tightly around the babies which caused their limbs to straighten. This symbolized the hope that the child would grow up straight and walk a straight path and not be crooked or wayward. This practice is confirmed in scripture by the Holy Spirit through Ezekiel when in chapter 16 verse 4 while speaking of Isreal he says “And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.”
Sidenote: In Ezekiel 16:6 still speaking of Israel it says “And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live” notice who’s blood they are covered in, their own, not Christ’s. It goes on to say in 16:8-10 that “Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.” Notice it says He girded them about with fine linen. The word linen is the same word used in Exodus to describe the material out of which the priestly garments were to be made.
I could go on forever but I will end with one last thing, after the 7 day feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, there was a solemn day known as Shemini Atzeret which means the eighth day of assembly Lev. 23:34. If Christ was indeed born on the first day of Tabernacles, then in accordance with Genesis 17:12 he would have been presented in the temple for his circumcision 8 days later on Shemini Atzerat.
Having said all of this we must rememeber that the most important thing is not WHEN He came, but THAT He came and for what purpose He came.
Showing posts with label Passover. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Passover. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Agony of Love
"He creates the universe, already foreseeing—or should we say “seeing”? There are no tenses in God—the buzzing cloud of flies about the cross, the flayed back pressed against the uneven stake, the nails driven through the medial nerves, the repeated incipient suffocation as the body droops, the repeated torture of back and arms as it is time after time, for breath’s sake hitched up. If I may dare the biological image, God is a “host” who deliberately creates His own parasites; causes us to be that we may exploit and “take advantage” of Him. Herein is love. This is the diagram of Love Himself, the inventor of all loves." - C.S. Lewis
Crucifixion was invented by the Persians between 300-400 b.c. It was "perfected" by the Romans in the first century b.c. It is arguably the most painful death ever invented by man and is where we get our term "excruciating." It was reserved primarily for the most vicious of criminals.
The most common device used for crucifixion was a wooden cross, which consisted of an upright pole permanently fixed in the ground with a removable crossbar, usually weighing between 75-100 lbs. Victims of crucifixion were typically stripped naked and their clothing divided by the Roman guards. In Jesus' case this was done in fulfillment of Psalm 22:18, "They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."
As a gesture of "Roman kindness" the prisoner was offered a mixture of vinegar (gall) and wine as a mild anesthetic. This anesthetic was refused by Jesus. Consequently, He bore it all! The Apostle Peter stated of Jesus:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24
The victim was then placed on his back, arms stretched out and nailed to the cross bar. The nails, which were generally about 7-9 inches long, were placed between the bones of the forearm (the radius and ulna) and the small bones of the hands (the carpal bones). (Figure 1.)
The placement of the nail at this point had several effects. First it ensured that the victim would indeed hang there until dead. Secondly, a nail placed at this point would sever the largest nerve in the hand called the median nerve.
The severing of this nerve is a medical catastrophe. In addition to severe burning pain the destruction of this nerve causes permanent paralysis of the hand. Furthermore, by nailing the victim at this point in the wrist, there would be minimal bleeding and there would be no bones broken! Thus scriptures were fulfilled:
I can count all my bones: they look and stare upon me. Psalm 22:17
He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:20
The positioning of the feet is probably the most critical part of the mechanics of crucifixion. First the knees were flexed about 45 degrees and the feet were flexed (bent downward) an additional 45 degrees until they were parallel the vertical pole. An iron nail about 7-9 inches long was driven through the feet between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones. In this position the nail would sever the dorsal pedal artery of the foot, but the resultant bleeding would be insufficient to cause death. (Figure 2)
The Catastrophic Result
The resulting position on the cross sets up a horrific sequence of events which results in a slow, painful death. Having been pinned to the cross, the victim now has an impossible position to maintain. (Figure 3)
With the knees flexed at about 45 degrees, the victim must bear his weight with the muscles of the thigh. However, this is an almost impossible task-try to stand with your knees flexed at 45 degrees for 5 minutes. As the strength of the legs gives out, the weight of the body must now be borne by the arms and shoulders. The result is that within a few minutes of being placed on the cross, the shoulders will become dislocated. Minutes later the elbows and wrists become dislocated. The result of these dislocations is that the arms are as much as 6-9 inches longer than normal.
With the arms dislocated, considerable body weight is transferred to the chest, causing the rib cage to be elevated in a state of perpetual inhalation. Consequently, in order to exhale the victim must push down on his feet to allow the rib muscles to relax. The problem is that the victim cannot push very long because the legs are extremely fatigued. As time goes on, the victim is less and less able to bear weight on the legs, causing further dislocation of the arms and further raising of the chest wall, making breathing more and more difficult.
The result of this process is a series of catastrophic physiological effects. Because the victim cannot maintain adequate ventilation of the lungs, the blood oxygen level begins to diminish and the blood carbon dioxide (CO2) level begins to rise. This rising CO2 level stimulates the heart to beat faster in order to increase the delivery of oxygen and the removal of CO2. (Figure 4)
However, due to the pinning of the victim and the limitations of oxygen delivery, the victim cannot deliver more oxygen and the rising heart rate only increases oxygen demand. So this process sets up a vicious cycle of increasing oxygen demand-which cannot be met-followed by an ever increasing heart rate. After several hours the heart begins to fail, the lungs collapse and fill up with fluid, which further decreases oxygen delivery to the tissues. The blood loss and hyperventilation combines to cause severe dehydration. This is almost certainly why Jesus said, "I thirst."
Over a period of several hours the combination of collapsing lungs, a failing heart, dehydration, and the inability to get adequate oxygen supplies to the tissues cause the eventual death of the victim. The victim, in effect, cannot breath properly and slowly suffocates to death. In cases of severe cardiac stress, such as crucifixion, a victim's heart can even burst. This process is called "Cardiac Rupture."
To slow the process of death the executioners put a small wooden seat on the cross, which would allow the victim the privilege of bearing his weight on his buttocks. The effect of this was that it could take up to nine days to die on a cross.
When the Romans wanted to expedite death they would simply break the legs of the victim, causing him to suffocate in a matter of minutes. At three o'clock in the afternoon Jesus said, "Tetelastai," meaning "it is finished." Then He gave up the ghost. When the soldiers came to Jesus to break His legs, He was already dead. Not a bone of Him was broken!
How Should We Then Live?
I realize that it is difficult to read of the details of Jesus' physical sufferings. And yet, when we realize that He looked forward, on our behalf, to the cross, we are overwhelmed with His practical demonstration of love and, hopefully, a personal realization of our unworthiness. How should we then live? I believe that the Apostle Paul said it best:
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
I would also like to point out that Christ does not wish for you to feel guilty about what He had to endured on the cross. Remember what he told the 2 men on the road to Emmaus "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?" Luke 24:25-26
Christ is telling them that it had to happen the way that it did, and we should always remeber that. We couldn't accomplish what He did ourselves, He had to do it and He was happy to.
However it is important for us to realize just how much it cost Him. If this post does nothing else I hope that it helps you realize that first of all, you were indeed "bought with a price" 1st Corinthians 6:20 & 7:23 and second, you were not cheap!!
It is also worth noting that we were purchased individually, It was not a package deal. Christ suffered and died for each individual sin of every human being who has ever walked this Earth. That's right, your sins have already been dealt with on the cross and forgiveness is now offered as a free gift. Whether or not you choose to accept or deny that gift is your personal choice, and it is a choice which will determine where you spend your eternity. As I said Christ has dealt with your sin, therefore no one will be denied entry into heaven and thus banished to eternal punishment because of their sin. Rather they will be excluded based solely on their refusal to accept the reconciliation that God provided for that sin through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. In order for a gift to become your possession, you must first accept it. Also remember that, "he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him." Thank Christ today for what He has accomplished for us and ask Him to grant you the free gift of forgiveness of sin and eternal life with Him through belief in His death and resurrection.
http://khouse.org/articles/1998/113/
Crucifixion was invented by the Persians between 300-400 b.c. It was "perfected" by the Romans in the first century b.c. It is arguably the most painful death ever invented by man and is where we get our term "excruciating." It was reserved primarily for the most vicious of criminals.
The most common device used for crucifixion was a wooden cross, which consisted of an upright pole permanently fixed in the ground with a removable crossbar, usually weighing between 75-100 lbs. Victims of crucifixion were typically stripped naked and their clothing divided by the Roman guards. In Jesus' case this was done in fulfillment of Psalm 22:18, "They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."
As a gesture of "Roman kindness" the prisoner was offered a mixture of vinegar (gall) and wine as a mild anesthetic. This anesthetic was refused by Jesus. Consequently, He bore it all! The Apostle Peter stated of Jesus:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24
The victim was then placed on his back, arms stretched out and nailed to the cross bar. The nails, which were generally about 7-9 inches long, were placed between the bones of the forearm (the radius and ulna) and the small bones of the hands (the carpal bones). (Figure 1.)
The placement of the nail at this point had several effects. First it ensured that the victim would indeed hang there until dead. Secondly, a nail placed at this point would sever the largest nerve in the hand called the median nerve.
The severing of this nerve is a medical catastrophe. In addition to severe burning pain the destruction of this nerve causes permanent paralysis of the hand. Furthermore, by nailing the victim at this point in the wrist, there would be minimal bleeding and there would be no bones broken! Thus scriptures were fulfilled:
I can count all my bones: they look and stare upon me. Psalm 22:17
He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:20
The positioning of the feet is probably the most critical part of the mechanics of crucifixion. First the knees were flexed about 45 degrees and the feet were flexed (bent downward) an additional 45 degrees until they were parallel the vertical pole. An iron nail about 7-9 inches long was driven through the feet between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones. In this position the nail would sever the dorsal pedal artery of the foot, but the resultant bleeding would be insufficient to cause death. (Figure 2)
The Catastrophic Result
The resulting position on the cross sets up a horrific sequence of events which results in a slow, painful death. Having been pinned to the cross, the victim now has an impossible position to maintain. (Figure 3)
With the knees flexed at about 45 degrees, the victim must bear his weight with the muscles of the thigh. However, this is an almost impossible task-try to stand with your knees flexed at 45 degrees for 5 minutes. As the strength of the legs gives out, the weight of the body must now be borne by the arms and shoulders. The result is that within a few minutes of being placed on the cross, the shoulders will become dislocated. Minutes later the elbows and wrists become dislocated. The result of these dislocations is that the arms are as much as 6-9 inches longer than normal.
With the arms dislocated, considerable body weight is transferred to the chest, causing the rib cage to be elevated in a state of perpetual inhalation. Consequently, in order to exhale the victim must push down on his feet to allow the rib muscles to relax. The problem is that the victim cannot push very long because the legs are extremely fatigued. As time goes on, the victim is less and less able to bear weight on the legs, causing further dislocation of the arms and further raising of the chest wall, making breathing more and more difficult.
The result of this process is a series of catastrophic physiological effects. Because the victim cannot maintain adequate ventilation of the lungs, the blood oxygen level begins to diminish and the blood carbon dioxide (CO2) level begins to rise. This rising CO2 level stimulates the heart to beat faster in order to increase the delivery of oxygen and the removal of CO2. (Figure 4)
However, due to the pinning of the victim and the limitations of oxygen delivery, the victim cannot deliver more oxygen and the rising heart rate only increases oxygen demand. So this process sets up a vicious cycle of increasing oxygen demand-which cannot be met-followed by an ever increasing heart rate. After several hours the heart begins to fail, the lungs collapse and fill up with fluid, which further decreases oxygen delivery to the tissues. The blood loss and hyperventilation combines to cause severe dehydration. This is almost certainly why Jesus said, "I thirst."
Over a period of several hours the combination of collapsing lungs, a failing heart, dehydration, and the inability to get adequate oxygen supplies to the tissues cause the eventual death of the victim. The victim, in effect, cannot breath properly and slowly suffocates to death. In cases of severe cardiac stress, such as crucifixion, a victim's heart can even burst. This process is called "Cardiac Rupture."
To slow the process of death the executioners put a small wooden seat on the cross, which would allow the victim the privilege of bearing his weight on his buttocks. The effect of this was that it could take up to nine days to die on a cross.
When the Romans wanted to expedite death they would simply break the legs of the victim, causing him to suffocate in a matter of minutes. At three o'clock in the afternoon Jesus said, "Tetelastai," meaning "it is finished." Then He gave up the ghost. When the soldiers came to Jesus to break His legs, He was already dead. Not a bone of Him was broken!
How Should We Then Live?
I realize that it is difficult to read of the details of Jesus' physical sufferings. And yet, when we realize that He looked forward, on our behalf, to the cross, we are overwhelmed with His practical demonstration of love and, hopefully, a personal realization of our unworthiness. How should we then live? I believe that the Apostle Paul said it best:
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
I would also like to point out that Christ does not wish for you to feel guilty about what He had to endured on the cross. Remember what he told the 2 men on the road to Emmaus "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?" Luke 24:25-26
Christ is telling them that it had to happen the way that it did, and we should always remeber that. We couldn't accomplish what He did ourselves, He had to do it and He was happy to.
However it is important for us to realize just how much it cost Him. If this post does nothing else I hope that it helps you realize that first of all, you were indeed "bought with a price" 1st Corinthians 6:20 & 7:23 and second, you were not cheap!!
It is also worth noting that we were purchased individually, It was not a package deal. Christ suffered and died for each individual sin of every human being who has ever walked this Earth. That's right, your sins have already been dealt with on the cross and forgiveness is now offered as a free gift. Whether or not you choose to accept or deny that gift is your personal choice, and it is a choice which will determine where you spend your eternity. As I said Christ has dealt with your sin, therefore no one will be denied entry into heaven and thus banished to eternal punishment because of their sin. Rather they will be excluded based solely on their refusal to accept the reconciliation that God provided for that sin through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. In order for a gift to become your possession, you must first accept it. Also remember that, "he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him." Thank Christ today for what He has accomplished for us and ask Him to grant you the free gift of forgiveness of sin and eternal life with Him through belief in His death and resurrection.
http://khouse.org/articles/1998/113/
We Are Barabbas!!
Given the time of year, this topic seemed appropriate.
Matthew 27:15 – 26
15] Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16] And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17] Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18] For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19] When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20] But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21] The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22] Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23] And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24] When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25] Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26] Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
First of all, who is Barabbas
We learn a from Mark 15:7 that Barabbas was a murderer
“And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made
insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.”
and we know from John 18:40 that he was a thief.
Barabbas stood under the righteous condemnation of the law. He knew the One who was to take his cross and take his place was innocent. He knew that Jesus Christ was for him a true substitute. He knew that he had done nothing to merit going free while another took his place.
However;
The murderer’s bonds, curse, disgrace, and mortal agony were transferred to the righteous Jesus, while the liberty, innocence, safety, and well-being of the Nazarene became the lot of the murderer. Barabbas is installed in all the rights and privileges of Jesus Christ; while the innocent Christ enters upon all the infamy and horror of the rebel’s position. The delinquent’s guilt and cross become the lot of the Just One, and all the civil rights and immunities of the later are now the property of the delinquent. Where are you and I? …in Barabbas’ shoes! We are Barabbas!
By the way, Barabbas means “Son of the Father” Very Interesting!!
Matthew 27:15 – 26
15] Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16] And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17] Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18] For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19] When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20] But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21] The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22] Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23] And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24] When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25] Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26] Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
First of all, who is Barabbas
We learn a from Mark 15:7 that Barabbas was a murderer
“And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made
insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.”
and we know from John 18:40 that he was a thief.
Barabbas stood under the righteous condemnation of the law. He knew the One who was to take his cross and take his place was innocent. He knew that Jesus Christ was for him a true substitute. He knew that he had done nothing to merit going free while another took his place.
However;
The murderer’s bonds, curse, disgrace, and mortal agony were transferred to the righteous Jesus, while the liberty, innocence, safety, and well-being of the Nazarene became the lot of the murderer. Barabbas is installed in all the rights and privileges of Jesus Christ; while the innocent Christ enters upon all the infamy and horror of the rebel’s position. The delinquent’s guilt and cross become the lot of the Just One, and all the civil rights and immunities of the later are now the property of the delinquent. Where are you and I? …in Barabbas’ shoes! We are Barabbas!
By the way, Barabbas means “Son of the Father” Very Interesting!!
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