Let us avoid the mistake of our ancestors, who chose Barabbas over Jesus.

Let us avoid the mistake of our ancestors, who chose Barabbas over Jesus. Who was Barabbas in the Bible, and what actions did he take? I wonder what Barabbas did with the life Jesus gave him. Barabbas was a notorious criminal—a thief, murderer, and insurrectionist fighting against the Roman government. He was in prison, awaiting execution, but was chosen by a crowd to be released by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate instead of Jesus during Passover. This exchange is vital in Christianity because it symbolizes Jesus's substitutionary atonement for sinners. What Barabbas did: - Rebelled against Rome: Barabbas participated in an uprising against Roman authority. - Committed murder: He was guilty of murder, probably of a Roman soldier during the uprising. - Stole property: John's Gospel also describes him as a thief. - Was a "notorious prisoner": He was a well-known, hardened criminal whose crimes were widely recognized. Why did the people choose Barabbas over Jesus? The crowd chose Barabbas over Jesus for several reasons: influence from religious leaders who feared Jesus, their hope for a revolutionary Messiah to free them from Roman rule, spiritual blindness, and mob pressure. The religious leaders "stirred up" the crowd. At the same time, their desire for political freedom and misunderstanding of Jesus' kingdom led them to reject Jesus in favor of Barabbas, who was an insurrectionist. Influence of Religious Leaders The chief priests and elders actively urged the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. They envied Jesus's popularity and viewed him as a threat to their authority, so they used their influence to sway public opinion. Crowd's Political Expectations Many in the crowd expected the Messiah to be a political and military leader who would overthrow Roman rule. Barabbas, as a known insurrectionist, fit these expectations, while Jesus's message of a spiritual kingdom "not of this world" did not. Spiritual Blindness and Mob Psychology The crowd was spiritually blind, unable to recognize Jesus as the innocent "Lamb of God," and instead chose Barabbas, a violent rebel. Universal Church of the Living God Visit our website: https://universalchurchofthelivinggod.com Would you support our mission?