The Passion and the Glory: Jesus on Trial


"Which Jesus do you want?"  That's the key question in Matthew's account of Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate (27:11-26).  Pilate quickly figured out that Jesus was no threat to the Roman government.  He had committed no crime worthy of death.  But the governor came under intense pressure to convict Jesus.  If he handed Jesus over to die, he would be responsible for a gross injustice.  If he let Jesus go, he would draw the ire of Jewish leaders, endangering his career.

As he wrestled with what to do, he remembered that his government had the custom of releasing a Jewish prisoner during the Passover feast.  He reached down into the depths of the prison and brought out Barabbas.  Matthew says that Barabbas was a notorious prisoner.  Mark (15:7) says that he was an insurrectionist against Rome who committed murder in an uprising.  He was an ancient terrorist, who tried to accomplish political and religious ends by violent means.

Pilate presented the two before the crowd and asked, "Whom shall I release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  

There's a fascinating variant in ancient texts of Matthew.  Barabbas is technically a last name.  It means "son of Abbas."  His first name is missing.  But some ancient texts give him the first name "Jesus."  "Jesus," Yeshua  in Hebrew, was a common name in those days. It's possible that Barabbas' first name was Jesus.

This means Pilate could have been asking, "Which Jesus shall I release to you?  Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?  

It was a critical choice.  Jesus Barabbas represented the pursuit of earthly power for religion by politics and violence.  Jesus Christ represented the pursuit of God's kingdom through faith, love, and mercy.

The crowd chose Barabbas.

Today, Jesus calls us to decide about him.  Many church folk today say they call for Jesus.  But when we compromise Christ's values to gain political and cultural power for our faith, we follow Barabbas.  
Barabbas represents the acquisition of political power by any means necessary.  Christ represents living by God's love and mercy.  

Whom do we choose?

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