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By Roger A. Scully, Jr.
- The Bible is, without doubt, the most complex book that will ever exist. Its pages are filled with what may
seem to be incidentals, but which are, upon further investigation, shown to be a part of the sagacious mind of
God revealed to man. One teacher called the Bible the book of interstices, meaning a book of concepts, all of
which are connected. There are connections of prophecy/typology, such as the birds of Leviticus 14, wherein
one was put to death, the other baptized in the blood of the dead bird, then set free; the death of one for the
life of the other, an obvious reference to the death of Jesus and man’s salvation through His blood, which is
contacted in baptism (Mrk 16:16; Ac 20:28). There are tropes, such as the parables. And, there are those
little events, which, upon reflection, make the Bible student say, hmmm, such as the thief on the cross on the
RIGHT hand of Jesus becoming penitent and being granted salvation (Lk 23:42; Matt 25:33; Mrk 2:10). There
is another such event to which attention is now called which is worthy of abysmal pontification: The freedom of
Barabbas.
- Barabbas is mentioned as a “murderer” and a “robber” who was arrested during an “insurrection” (Mrk
15:7; Jn 18:40). The Bible calls him a “notable prisoner,” meaning he was well known for his behavior. In
Matthew 27:17 Pilate asked which prisoner should be released, Jesus, who is the Christ, or Barabbas. The
people, after being persuaded by the Pharisees and High Priest, demanded the release of Barabbas. So, we
read that Pilate “released Barabbas…and delivered Jesus to be crucified” (Mrk 15:15). What about this
should make us say hmmm? The fact that this event has profound implications, for the sinner has been made
free, through the death of the righteous Savior, Jesus. Had not Jesus been put to death, then Barabbas would
not have been released from bondage.
And, so it is with all of us. Had not Jesus been put to death, then we would have no freedom from sin
(Rom 6:16, 17). But, God be thanked that through the death of the innocent, the guilty may go free, “God
commandeth His own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).