We are continuing our meditation on what took place on the day of the crucifixion of Christ. After the scourging and beating by the Roman soldiers, they took Jesus before the Jewish crowd assembled outside the Roman fortress Antonia. The scene of the facial and bodily disfigurement of the Messiah of Israel was prophesied more than five hundred years previously by Isaiah:
Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness (Isaiah 52:14).
The Roman soldiers beat Christ so severely that His form was disfigured to “beyond human likeness.” In other words, He hardly looked human anymore. Pilate presented Jesus to them, "Here is the man!" (John 19:5b). Before them was the most perfect, loving, and compassionate Man the earth has ever witnessed. Here was God in the flesh, showing us what God is like in a way we can understand, yet humanity rejected him. The Scriptures describe Jesus as “rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).
The Roman governor Pilate, wishing to release Jesus, suddenly thought of a way out. Due to Passover starting in a few hours, there was the tradition of releasing one prisoner as an act of grace and mercy. Pilate raised his voice with the crowd before him and suggested this act of kindness to them. He gave them a choice, feeling sure that they would choose Christ. After all, only a few days previously, the ordinary people had been laying down palm branches before Christ as He came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. They were crying out then, “Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matthew 21:9). Remembering his wife's dream (Matthew 27:19), Pilate felt confident the crowd would pick the Son of David over the murderer and insurrectionist Barabbas, scheduled to die by crucifixion that same morning (Mark 15:7).
Let’s imagine what it was like for Barabbas in the dungeon underneath the courtyard. He couldn't hear individual conversations, but he could likely hear the crowd shouting. Wanting to obey their leaders against the Romans, the people yelled at the top of their lungs for Barabbas. Imagine what it was like for Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the apostle John, for the elders to manipulate the crowd against Jesus.
20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and have Jesus executed. 21Which of the two do you want me to release to you? asked the governor. Barabbas, they answered. 22What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ? Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23"Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:20-23).
In the dungeon, perhaps Barabbas heard his name shouted, followed by the words "Crucify Him." His heart must have skipped a beat at the dread of his impending crucifixion beside two others. Think of what it must have been like for Barabbas moments later to hear a Roman soldier coming down the hallway with the sound of keys in his hand. Barabbas must have thought to himself that his time was up. Imagine his shock to hear of his release and that someone had taken his place. He was free to leave and go wherever he wanted. All charges against him were dropped! I like to think that, later, as he got out of Jerusalem, he saw Jesus crucified in his place as his substitute.
Like Barabbas, we also deserve the just death penalty for our sins and rebellion against the King. Like him, we are also offered a free pardon for our actions in this world. Jesus took our place and offered Himself as the substitute for all sin. This substitutionary death is charged to our spiritual account when we place our faith and trust in His finished work on the cross. Thank God Jesus sets us free. When the truth is presented, will you walk out of your cell like Barabbas and thank God for sending a Substitute? Keith Thomas
Taken from the study Jesus Before Pilate