In 1951, a Swedish author named Par Lagerkvist wrote a novel that won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1951. He entitled it, “Barabbas,” fictionally portraying the days that followed one of the more interesting characters during the last days of our Lord. During the trial, Pilate offered to release either Jesus or a man named Barabbas. Since the Jews were prosecuting Jesus because of envy (Matt. 27:18), the chief priests and elders actually coerced the multitude of gathered citizens to request the offer of releasing this man in the place of Jesus. As far as Biblical record goes, we know nothing else of this infamous scoundrel. Yet, he provides a number of valuable lessons in the grand scope of redemption’s pinnacle.
First, he was a sinner. The gospel writers describe him with despicable language—he was a prisoner (Matt. 27:16), because he was convicted of murder (Luke 23:19), rebellion (Mark 15:7) and robbery (John 18:40). In fact, Matthew states that he was “notable” (Matt. 27:16). In other words, he would be compared today to an incarcerated criminal formerly on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List—a man everyone knew from his crimes. Thus, he represented the very one for whom Jesus died—he died for sinners (Rom. 5:6-10), and we are sinners (Rom. 3:10-11, 23). The great apostle John even declared, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us…If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8, 10).
Second, Jesus substituted him in death. We ought to remember when Abraham was going to offer his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice to God that God stopped him and substituted a ram [male lamb] (Gen. 22:13-14). Abraham named that place “Jehovah-jireh,” which means, “God will provide,” indicating, among other things, that God will provide a substitute. Thus, when we are worthy to die because of our sins, God substituted the Lamb of God (John 1:29) as a substitute for our sins.
Third, he was saved from death—he obtained a type of salvation in that his life was spared. No doubt, because of the severity of crimes he committed, he was likely on “death row.” Unexpectedly, he was “released” (Matt. 27:36), which indicates that he was pardoned. This is exactly what Jesus was doing as He was going to the cross—He was going to die to pardon our sins (cf. Matt. 6:12). Through His shed blood, we have forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7).
In Biblical record, we have no idea whether this had any impact on his life or not, but we can only hope that the influence of Jesus from that day changed the heart of this cold criminal into a constructive citizen in the community, as well as in the kingdom of God.