Matthew 27:15-18

Posted by DJL on Apr 3, 2014 in Lenten Devotions | 1 comment

Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.

Which Jesus will it be?

That’s the great irony of Pilate’s dilemma. He has before him two prisoners, each named Jesus. One, Matthew reports, is a notorious criminal; the other, a religious figure accused of being the Messiah. Which one will Pilate choose?

Before moving to quickly through this scene, it’s worth noting that Matthew is the only evangelist of the four who refers to Barabbas as “Jesus Barabbas.” Typically when a difference like this exists in the Gospels, I take it as an invitation to pay special attention. Not in order to figure out which one was right but rather to perceive more clearly what the evangelist was trying to confess. So what is Matthew trying to tell us, we might wonder, given that Jesus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua which means “God saves.”

Perhaps he is describing the choice between two paths to salvation, to bringing in God’s kingdom. The other gospel accounts describe Barabbas as a zealot, one who wanted to overthrow Roman rule. So this they have in common – both Jesus Barabbas and Jesus called the Messiah anticipate “regime change.” But whereas Barabbas has chosen to do so by violence – hence Matthew’s designation of him as “a notorious criminal” – Jesus seeks to inaugurate the kingdom of God through forgiveness, mercy, and healing. And whereas Barabbas takes up arms to bring in the kingdom through force, Jesus spreads his arms wide on the cross, demonstrating that God’s kingdom will not come through violence but only through love.

So which Jesus will Pilate choose? Which will the crowds prefer? These are the questions Matthew prepares to answer. But perhaps he would also ask us, which one will we choose? Oh, certainly we wouldn’t prefer a violent criminal to Jesus, but I’m not sure that’s Matthew’s point. We will yield to God’s guidance and timing rather than take matters into our own hands? Will we forgive those who offend and hurt us rather than demand punishment and call it justice? Will we follow the way of love and service when all around us bids us to choose power?

Which Jesus will Pilate and the crowds choose? We’ll know in a minute. Which Jesus will we follow? That question will take a lifetime to answer.

Prayer: Dear God, draw us away from the path of power and violence and teach us to walk the road of service, love, and peace as we endeavor to follow Jesus who is called the Messiah. In Jesus’ name, Amen.