Barabbas: Jesus took his place! II. Jesus is the Truth - (v. 33-38a) Notice what John 18:28-40 Jesus tells Pilate… September 6, 2020 A. Jesus is King! B. His kingdom is not of this world “Roman justice certainly went awry here. An innocent man is C. All who know the truth (Jesus), hear the truth to die. But wait a minute—He is taking my place and I am not innocent. He’s taking your place also.” John 10:27 (ESV) -J. Vernon McGee 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Intro: This morning I want to clearly show you who Note: Jesus, as the truth, walks into the middle of this setup, Satan is with all of his murder, lies, and deception. I and shows us the Gospel, beautifully illustrated! also want to clearly show you Who Jesus is, as He is life and truth! III. The truth is that Jesus came to take your place Then I want to introduce you to a person (Barabbas) - (v. 38b-40) who beautifully, albeit unwittingly, illustrates what Jesus came to this earth to do. This is illustrated so well in Barabbas… A. Barabbas was a rotten sinner - (v. 40b) I. Satan is the Father of murder & lies - (v. 28-32) 1. a prisoner - (Matthew 27:16) 2. a rebel & murderer- (Mark 15:7) John 8:44 (ESV) 3. a robber - (John 18:40) 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your 4. Simply put: a notorious criminal… father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Matthew 27:16 (ESV) When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. liar and the father of lies. Note: Barabbas is simply a picture of who we are without A. The sham of circular reasoning - (v. 29-30) Christ. I could just as easily call myself the greatest sinner as B. A pretense for murder - (v. 31) I could Barabbas. Paul called himself the worst of sinners.

John 10:10a (ESV) 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV) 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of Satan wants people to stay lost, dead, and eternally whom I am the foremost. condemned! Romans 3:11–12 (ESV) 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have C. Barabbas went free that day. turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” John 5:24 (ESV) 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and B. Barabbas’s debt was paid for by another believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come 1. They flogged Jesus into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 2. They mocked Jesus 3. They sent Jesus to the cross… John 8:32 (ESV) 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you Mark 15:15–20 (ESV) free.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be Caution: I’m not saying Barabbas ever placed his faith in crucified. 16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace Jesus. I’m just saying He is a tangible, physical illustration of (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together what Jesus came to do for us spiritually. the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And Conclusion: There are those who might say that they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and they have a problem with the innocent dying on behalf kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had of, and in the stead of the guilty. There are those that mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his would say that this is not justice. However, God own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. Himself is the judge. Jesus being God in the flesh, and the righteous judge decided to step in and take the Note: By all rights, everything that should have been done to penalty. The judge and the one receiving the penalty Barabbas was instead done unto Jesus. What Barabbas are one in the same. This was the prerogative of the deserved, Jesus received. What we deserved, Jesus received judge and it is absolute justice and absolute mercy all upon the cross. He paid our debt where we would not have wrapped up together. Praise God!! to pay it. There is no other mention of Barabbas after this “Barabbas should have died for his crimes but Jesus incident. I would hope that Jesus’s sacrifice for him occupied his cross…Barabbas, you are free. Another is to die made a difference and that he came to know Jesus. in your stead!…What a picture of divine grace this There is just no way to know. He walked free substitutionary death presents!” -Herbert Lockyer (physically) that day because Jesus took his place. We walk free spiritually because Jesus took our 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV) place. I am Barabbas and my debt was paid by 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we Jesus. I trust Jesus, and therefore I am free! might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.