The Great Exchange
In 1881, the famous author Mark Twain published The Prince and the Pauper. In this story, two identical-looking boys are born on the same day, but they represent two very different sides of life. One, a prince named Edward, is born into the royal palace of England. The other, a poor boy named Tom, is born into the London slums.Tom dreamed of living in the palace. One day, as he watched a royal procession through the city, he met Prince Edward, who invited him into the palace for a visit. During this visit, they exchanged clothing for fun. When the people of the palace mistook the one for the other, they mistakenly returned Edward to the streets and kept Tom as a prince instead.This exchange of identities continued for several years. Tom experienced palace life, while Edward learned to appreciate firsthand the hardships of common, ordinary people outside the castle. When the king died, people nearly crowned Tom as the new king, but at the last moment, Edward proved that he was the rightful heir to the throne.The people realized their error and crowned Edward. In kindness, he adopted Tom into the family and gave him a royal title. His experiences in the London slums also inspired him to govern in an understanding way, showing kindness to people everywhere.This pretend story resembles a real moment in the life and ministry of Jesus when the Jewish people exchanged Jesus for a man named Barabbas (John 18:39-40). In this moment, the King of Kings swapped places with a convicted criminal. This great exchange vividly illustrates for us that the truth about Jesus sets guilty sinners free.
The truth about Jesus sets guilty sinners free.
According to John 18:38, Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent of any crime. On this basis, he should have released Jesus and closed his case. But doing so would only stir up more unrest in Jerusalem, leading to a possible riot. If that happened, Pilate would risk losing his position as governor (John 19:12). To solve this problem, he devised a clever plan.Over the years, the Romans had introduced a special tradition as a favor to the Jews. During Passover, they would release a Jewish prisoner chosen by the people. So Pilate believed that if he offered Jesus and a convicted criminal to the crowd, they would choose to release Jesus. This approach would mean that the Jewish people, not Pilate, would choose to release him, and this would encourage a peaceful outcome.On this occasion, Pilate, who prided himself in knowing how to outsmart the Jewish people, failed miserably; the people responded opposite of what he expected. Instead of choosing Jesus, they chose to release Barabbas. This surprising decision set up a fascinating scenario filled with dramatic irony and rich with theological significance.
Barabbas was the son of an unknown, earthly father, but Jesus was the son of the divine, heavenly Father.
We know little about the family background and personal identity of this man named Barabbas. In fact, we may not know his name at all. All four gospels, including John, refer to him as Barabbas. This name means “son of the father.” Perhaps the gospel writers refer to him this way to highlight a dramatic irony.The Jewish people chose the son of an earthly father over the son of the heavenly Father. That’s like choosing paper over steel, or tin foil instead of Kryptonite. It’s like choosing McNuggets instead of an Angus ribeye steak or Ramen noodle soup instead of fresh New England clam chowder. It is the epitome of choosing something inferior when a far superior option is available.
An innocent man was convicted, but a guilty man was set free.
The irony deepens. Not only was Barabbas merely a human being, but he also was a criminal. John describes him as a robber (John 18:40). Mark and Luke describe him as an insurrectionist, and a murderer (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19). Matthew tells us he was “a notorious prisoner” (27:16). From these descriptions, we learn that Barabbas was a very bad man who had committed serious and violent crimes. Jesus had never endangered public safety, but Barabbas was a severe, red alert terrorism threat according to our current Homeland Security Advisory System.
Jesus had never endangered public safety, but Barabbas was a severe, red alert terrorism threat.
Even more ironically, the crime of Barabbas resembled the crime of which the Jewish leaders had accused Christ falsely. Their only accusation to Pilate against Jesus was that he wanted to stage a revolt against Rome. Yet Barabbas had actually committed this very crime, plus many more. So by choosing Barabbas, the Jewish people betrayed themselves. If they were truly concerned about the crime which they accused Jesus of committing, then they would have been far more concerned about Barabbas. By choosing Barabbas, they revealed that they were not concerned about the supposed crime at all. They merely wanted the execution of Jesus at any cost.Furthermore, by choosing to release Barabbas, the people knowingly released someone who posed a significant risk to public safety, law and order, and a peaceful way of life. They desired the death of Jesus more than personal safety, and in doing so, they set up the worst judicial decision of all time. They released a serial criminal convicted of serious crimes while convicting a man who was the Son of God and who had never committed sin of any kind, not to mention any crime.
The Jewish leaders desired the death of Jesus more than personal safety.
Yet we needed it to be this way. We needed an innocent man to take our place. Peter later wrote, “Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18). Another sinful person cannot satisfy the consequences for another person’s sins. That is why any other religious leader or prophet can only tell you what to believe and what to do, but none can take your place. Unlike every other so-called Savior, Jesus was a perfectly innocent human being – who was also God – who was condemned, who suffered, and who died in your place.
The people chose someone other than Jesus, but Jesus chose from among the people.
Like the Jewish people in the crowd that day, you and I make similar faulty choices. In this way, we resemble our original father and mother, Adam and Eve, who chose to disobey God though he had done nothing but good for them.In the hours prior to his betrayal, arrest and crucifixion, Jesus reminded his followers (and you and me), “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). The crowd that day did what you and I do so often. We make the wrong choice. We choose sin over the Savior, Satan instead of God, the world instead of the Word of God, and error rather than the truth.Despite our sinful, fallen tendency to make wrong choices against the will of God, we find that God is a gracious and loving God who chooses sinners like you and me to be his children through the saving grace of his Jesus – the very one whom we betrayed.Having considered the corrupt, political strategizing of Pilate, the wrong and insidious plans of the Jewish crowd, and the humble, faithful, loving disposition of Jesus in this excruciating moment, we should also consider how Barabbas may have felt as this fateful trial unfolded for his benefit.
Consider how Barabbas may have felt as this fateful trial unfolded for his benefit.
Throughout this trial, Barabbas had been Iocked up in an inner, high-security cell of the Tower of Antonia. From this location, he would have heard only some of what was going on outside the prison. Matthew 27:21-25 provides us with some helpful perspective on what he may have heard.
- Pilate: “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” (v. 21)
- Crowd: “Barabbas!” (v. 21)
- Pilate: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” (v. 22)
- Crowd: “Crucify him!” (v. 22)
- Pilate: “Why? What crime has he committed?” (v. 23)
- Crowd: “Crucify him!” (v. 23)
- Pilate: “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility.” (v. 24)
- Crowd: “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” (v. 25)
It is safe to assume that Barabbas could not hear the lone voice of Pilate speaking out into the courtyard, away from the prison. It is also safe to assume that he did hear what the large crowd was screaming aloud. With this in mind, Barabbas would only have heard, “Barabbas … Crucify him! … Crucify him! … Let his blood be on us and on our children!”Imagine the chills, the fears, and the cold sweat he must have felt when he heard these ominous words. From what he could hear, he would have assumed that his execution was near. Moments later, when guards approached his cell to unclick the lock, you can imagine what he must have felt. But imagine the sudden rush of shock and exhilaration when he learned that he was being set free! Another man – this man named Jesus – was going to die in his place. Can you imagine what emotions he must have felt as he walked away from the prison that day, a guilty and convicted criminal now free?Donald Grey Barnhouse said this about that crucial moment:
Barabbas was the only man in the world who could say that Jesus Christ took his physical place. But I can say that Jesus Christ took my spiritual place. For it was I who deserved to die. It was I who deserved that the wrath of God should be poured upon me. I deserved the eternal punishment of the lake of fire. He was delivered up for my offenses. He was handed over to judgment because of my sins. This is why we speak of the substitutionary atonement. Christ was my substitute. He was satisfying the debt of divine justice and holiness. That is why I say that Christianity can be expressed in the three phrases: I deserved Hell; Jesus took my Hell; there is nothing left for me but his Heaven.[1]
Paul described it this way: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21). Peter said, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Pet 2:24).What is your standing with God today? Have you stepped forward to receive the death of Jesus Christ as the substitute for your own? Have you turned to Jesus to release you from the punishment for sin that you deserve? If you have not, then I urge you to do so today.If you have, then I appreciate more deeply the freedom from the consequences of your sin that you have received from Jesus. You did not choose him, but he has chosen you. He stepped forward to receive the consequences that you deserved to suffer for your sins. Do you appreciate what he has done on your behalf? If so, then how have you expressed or demonstrated your gratefulness to him in recent days?
[1] R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 427–428.
