Matthew 27:15-26 * March 11, 2009 * Midweek Lent 3 * Prof. Allen Sorum

The excruciating drama of the suffering and death of Jesus will quickly reach its terrifying climax. But the curtain does not have to come down on Jesus hanging lifeless on the cross. Here is a chance for Jesus to escape injustice, the false accusations, the fixed trial. Here is the chance for everything to be made right, when Pilate releases a prisoner back to the crowd.

This was the custom. At the time of the Jewish Passover festival, the custom allowed the Roman governor to release a Jewish prisoner from chains and bondage. How appropriate. This all happened during the Passover Festival when the Jews were celebrating their escape from Egyptian chains. The Passover, when the angel of death passed over all those doors that had on them the blood of the perfect lamb. This was the final plague that forced Pharaoh to release the Hebrew slaves and allow them to return to their land.

So right now, Pilate could correct the injustice that had occurred so far. The Jewish leaders had falsely accused the Savior. Now he could be released. The Roman soldiers had unfairly punished the Savior. But now at least the Savior could escape. The custom allowed Pilate, the Roman governor, to ask the crowd, “Whom would you like me to release?”

Here is Jesus Barabbas. He is a rebel, a terrorist, a murderer who murders in the name of Jewish nationalism. Barabbas’s goal was to use the tactics of terrorism to drive out the Romans from Jewish land. No doubt that this third cross was prepared for Barabbas. The Romans would not tolerate such rebellions and threats to public safety. He was killing people. He was caught and sentenced to die.

Here is Jesus of Nazareth. Not any threat at all to the Roman government or to any government on earth. His concern was for a spiritual kingdom in which people would come to him in faith. Jesus wasn’t killing people. The truth is, he had just raised Lazarus from the dead. His teaching was give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s. His teaching was pray for your enemies; don’t kill them. Here crowd! What is your choice? We can fix this right now! Put Barabbas on the cross intended for him. Let this innocent Jesus go free! “Which of the two?”

The crowd answered, “Barabbas.” Pilate: “Wait, Jesus is called your Christ. Jesus has committed no crime. Again, I ask you, think about this for a minute if you need to, which of the two?” Barabbas! Crucify Jesus! Release Barabbas!

Nowhere in history, nowhere in art or literature or song has there ever been recorded a betrayal such as this. Throughout all of Jesus’ ministry on earth, he had one thought and concern and that was to gather this crowd to himself as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. This crowd was a flock of sheep without a shepherd. They were defenseless and Satan was using everything from demons to self-righteous Pharisees to rip them to shreds. Jesus loved this crowd. He healed their sick. He healed them. He blessed their children. He raised their dead. He proclaimed a gospel that would give them a full life and freedom from their burdens. All Jesus wanted was to be their shepherd.

Now this crowd whom Jesus loved had the chance to fix what their leaders and their rulers had messed up. Now was their chance to make everything right. Pilate asked, “Which of the two?” “Barabbas! Crucify Jesus! Release Barabbas.”

Oh goodness. The drama and the volume is tuned down. But day in and day out, Pilate’s question is laid across our heart: “Which of the two? Which of the two?” Here we have our lies but there we have our Jesus who is truth. Here we have our greedy ways and there we have our giving Lord. Here is our proud acts and boasts. There we have our humble Lord who did not come to be served but to serve. Here is our sin. There is our Savior. And Pilate’s question rings in our ears, “Which of the two?”

And it just doesn’t make any sense. Time and again, we despise the wise choice. We despise the obvious choice. We grab hold of the profane and the rough and the dirty and the wicked. We turn our back on the one who only but passionately wants to gather us under his wings.

The crowd could have called for Jesus’ release. Pilate should have released Jesus regardless of the crowd’s preference. And so they blew their opportunity to make everything right. They blew it. But Jesus did not. He went the way that his Father had chosen for him. Jesus went the way that would allow him to come back to all of his sheep and reclaim them. Jesus went the way of the cross and crucifixion so he could be that perfect Passover Lamb of God whose blood would wash and cleanse and purify us from all of our sins. He went to the cross to offer himself up as that sacrifice that would pay for our sins so that the Father could forgive us.

Because Jesus is loyal to us, he allowed himself to be betrayed. He does not despise us. He cherishes us. “Jesus, whom do you choose? Do you choose this robber, this gossip, this thief, this adultery? Whom do you choose, Jesus?” And Jesus has replied forever: “I choose you all. I choose the whole crowd! Come to me, and trust in me, and believe in me. I am setting you free!”