Title: The Grace Received by Barabbas
2011.12.11 Sunday morning worship service
Bible: Matthew 27:15-17,26
Title: The Grace Received by Barabbas
Matthew 27:15-17 ‘15. On the feast day, there was a precedent for the governor to release a prisoner according to the petition of the crowd. 16. At that time, there was a famous prisoner named Barabbas.
17. When they were assembled, Pilate asked, "Who do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"
26. So Barabbas released them, and Jesus was whipped and handed over to be crucified’ - Amen.
In the Bible, many people appear along with various events, and the records of all these people and events show God's will to save people's lives.
The article of Barabbas in the text also conveys the meaning of salvation history to us. We would like to take a moment to look back at us through Barabbas under the title <The Grace Received by Barabbas>.
1. Barabbas is a murder robber
It is said that Barabbas was a vicious murderer and a robber (Luke 23:19, John 18:40). At that time, such criminals were said to have dug underground caves and locked them in a place where no light could enter.
Barabbas's life had come to an end, and there was absolutely no chance of escaping and surviving. Barabbas's situation makes us look back at the state in which our lives, dead in our sins and trespasses, are in a state where we cannot obtain salvation on our own. Colossians 1:13 “He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”
People do not believe in the atonement of Jesus because they do not fully realize how sinful they are. Of course, even if there is no fact of murder, theft, or social or ethical crime, the state of the human soul is dead in sins and transgressions, and a human being is full of selfishness and greed.
The Bible says in 1 John 3:15, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer...”
2. We are saved only by the grace of the Lord
In the Jewish festival of Passover, the text Matthew 27:15 says, “There was a precedent for the governor to release a prisoner according to the petition of the crowd.”
When Pilate saw Jesus, he was not the same person who would commit any particular sin (Luke 23:4 14-16), and the contents of the people's accusations were not clear. There are also scenes. Pilate asked that Jesus be released. But strangely, the people requested that Barabbas, a vicious murderer be released instead of Jesus (16,17,21,22; Acts 3:14-15).
Called out from the dungeon, Barabbas came out in search of light. He was saved without even knowing what had happened.
Romans 3:27 “Where then is there to be boastful? by what law, not by works, but only by the law of faith.”
There is no biblical record of how Barabbas lived after that.
We used to be like Barabbas, and even now, the sinful nature of hate over love has not completely disappeared. Nevertheless, the Lord gave us salvation through the grace of the ransom that He died for us, and we are protected and saved by virtue of His prayers for us even now (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25).
The least reason a Christian should be humble is because he was saved like Barabbas. I hope that you and I will continue to thank God for the guidance of God this year with a grateful heart for the salvation we received only through grace, and I hope that you and I will not forget to praise God for giving us eternal life no matter what we lack.