“Now, every year at Passover it was the custom of the governor to pardon a prisoner and release him to the people—anyone they wanted.  And at that time, Pilate was holding in custody a notorious criminal named Jesus Barabbas.  So as the crowds of people assembled outside of Pilate’s residence, he went out and offered them a choice.  He asked them, ‘Who would you want me to release to you today, Jesus who is called Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Anointed One?’  They shouted, ‘Barabbas.’  Pilate asked them, ‘Then what would you have me to do with Jesus who is called the Anointed One?’  They all shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’”  (Matthew 27:15-17, 21-22 TPT)

According to scripture (depending on the translation), Barabbas is described as a criminal, a murderer, an assassin, an insurgent, a revolutionary, a rebel, a robber, a thief, and a troublemaker.  This picture of Barabbas and Jesus always bothered me.  Looking at it from a justice point of view we see a corrupt, destructive and dangerous man whose crimes extend all the way to taking human life being presented before a crowd alongside an innocent, pure, and blameless man who brought light and life wherever he went.  One man will get to go free; one man will die in excruciating agony.  Crucifixion was the penalty of the Roman government for the worst crimes committed.  There were three crosses on the hill that day, one of them was meant for Barabbas, but Jesus took his place. 

Most translations just give his name as Barabbas as found in most Greek texts.  However, in some manuscripts he is referred to as Jesus Barabbas.  The name Barabbas (Bar-Abbas) is Aramaic and means “son of a father” or “son who is like his father”.  Some believe it to be a figure of speech insinuating an illegitimate son whose father was unknown.  Either way he is a picture of the sons of Adam, the father of all mankind through whom we inherited sin and iniquity.  Whereas Jesus was the Son of God through whom we inherit righteousness among so many other things.  Pilot’s question to the crowd about who they wanted released to them, “Jesus who is called Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Anointed One?” is really a question of “which son do you want?”  The son of Adam (guilt, corruption, darkness) or the Son of God (innocence, righteousness, light)? 

Insurrection is what the Jewish leaders were trying to accuse Jesus of because they wanted him crucified and yet they had no basis for such an accusation.  Jesus stood next to a man who was actually guilty of this crime, and the crowd passionately screamed for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus.  So, the guilty man was pardoned, and the innocent man crucified in his place.  The sinful man was forgiven, and the sinless man became the sin and endured it unto death.  The criminal’s record was expunged, and the righteous man paid for crimes he did not commit.  Barabbas went free because Jesus showed up and paid his debt.

My perspective of justice says that this wasn’t fair.  It wasn’t right that Jesus not only took what Barabbas deserved but endured far worse than what Barabbas would have likely endured.  But when I realized that I was Barabbas, I got to understand a little bit of God’s perspective of justice.  Romans 6:23 NKJV: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  The penalty for my sin is death.  Wages are what you earned for what you have done.  According to my view of justice, I deserve death.  But God’s view of justice says, even though you deserve death, I will pour out my wrath on my Son, he will receive the wages for what you have earned.  His blood will be emptied out as payment for your sin.  With your debt paid I will “gift” you eternal life in my Son, the one who endured what you deserved.  It is the justice of God that death was due for my sin.  It is the mercy of God that He sent Jesus to die and expunge my record of sin.

Jesus died as the last Adam because the entire evil inheritance of sin was put to death with him on the cross.  He rose as the second man, beginning a “God-man” race where God and man are combined as one creation through the uniting power of the Holy Spirit.  “The first man was from the dust of the earth; the second Man is Yahweh, from the realm of heaven.  The first one, made from dust, has a race of people just like him, who are also made from dust. The One sent from heaven has a race of heavenly people who are just like him.  Once we carried the likeness of the man of dust, but now let us carry the likeness of the man of heaven.” (1 Cor. 15:47-49 TPT).  In the footnotes of this translation, it explains that God only sees two men: Adam and Jesus.  We are either in Adam or we are in Jesus.  If we are in Adam, we are lost and merely human carrying the likeness of him through our iniquity and sin.  If we are in Jesus, we are “wrapped in the Anointed One as one who carries the life of Christ within”.  So, which son do you want?  The debt has been paid in full, and if we to choose to receive the gift offered to us, repent, and turn from the ways of Adam to the ways of Christ we are forgiven, our old man is put to death and we are raised as a new creation.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].” (2 Cor. 5:17 AMP) 

“’Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord.  ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.  If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword.’  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isa. 1:18-20 AMP).

There were three crosses on the hill that day.  One of them was meant for me.  But Jesus took my place.  Once I carried the likeness of the man of dust, but now let me carry the likeness of the man of heaven.