Luke 23:13-31
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” [17]
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then
“ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ p
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” [1]
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The crowd chose Barabbas. In the frenzy to do away with Jesus, they shouted their preference for a murderer. The choice is ironic in a couple of ways. In Matthew 27:16, we learn that Barabbas’ name was really Jesus Barabbas, which means “Jesus, son of the father.” In John 19:12-16, we see that the only charge which the Jewish leaders brought before Pilate was that Jesus stood in opposition to Caesar. This, in fact, is what Barabbas had been arrested for, in particular, opposing the Romans in a violent way. Barabbas was very much an ironic and false anti-Jesus.
And the crowd chose him.
Who would I have chosen? Of course we can’t really know the answer to that. A more critical question is what am I currently choosing when the choice is placed before me. Am I choosing Jesus as I live out each day? Am I choosing Jesus as I plan how to use my time? Am I choosing Jesus as I respond to situations that arise, as I live out my relationships with others?
Following Jesus is series of choices that I make each day. Will I choose Jesus or will I choose another path? Will my words and deeds give honor to Him, or serve someone or something else?
Jesus’ road to the cross was also a series of choices. Thanks be to God that every step of the way, He chose to honor the Father, carry out His mission, and give Himself in love for the very ones who were rejecting Him. I begin this new day washed clean by the grace which is mine because of the choices of Jesus. May my choices this day all serve to give Him glory.
Lord Jesus, thank you for choosing the cross for me. Grant me your Spirit this day, that I may follow You in every choice I make.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
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[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Lk 23:13–31). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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