Barabbas and Second Chances

I sometimes think about the first person Jesus saved when He went to the cross. We do not often consider this person, since he is not a main character in the New Testament. He is a minor character in the drama of the crucifixion. Though his part in history was brief, his story offers powerful lessons for us today.

The Jewish leaders put Jesus through a mock trial to sentence Him to death for blasphemy (showing disrespect to God). Under Roman rule, however, they could not execute anyone. So, they brought Jesus into the Roman judicial system, accusing Him of treason.

Both Herod and Pilate—the Roman authorities—examined Jesus. Although their soldiers mocked and mistreated Jesus, the rulers found no legal reason to execute Him (Luke 23:13-16).

Pilate repeatedly tried to release Jesus. He knew that the Jewish leaders handed Jesus over out of jealousy. He even ordered Jesus to be severely beaten, hoping the bloody sight would satisfy the angry crowd and move them to pity. However, the crowd’s hearts remained hard (John 19:1-16).

During the annual Passover feast, it was Pilate’s custom to release one prisoner chosen by the crowd. This was a smart political strategy to keep the peace and win favor with the public. Usually, the people would request someone they liked or pitied.

”Give us Barabbas!”

To secure Jesus’ release, Pilate tried a new strategy. He offered the crowd a choice between Jesus and a notorious criminal named Barabbas. Barabbas was a robber who had committed murder during a violent insurrection (an armed uprising against the government).

Pilate expected the crowd to reject a dangerous, violent criminal. Surely, they would prefer to release Jesus rather than put a murderer back on their streets. This choice seemed like a foolproof way to force the crowd to choose the outcome Pilate wanted.

However, the crowd shocked Pilate by demanding the release of Barabbas instead. The people chose a man who took life over the One who gives life. They chose violence and chaos over the Prince of Peace.

Pilate, astonished, asked:

“Why? What evil has He done?”

The crowd did not answer his question; they simply demanded that Jesus be crucified. Fearing a riot, Pilate gave in to their demands. He released Barabbas and handed Jesus over to be executed.

Barabbas became the first person Jesus physically saved by going to the cross. He was spared from crucifixion and freed from his prison cell. Jesus literally took his place, bearing the exact punishment that Barabbas deserved.

Second Chances

We do not know if this experience changed Barabbas.

He might have gone straight to a tavern to drink with his criminal friends, laughing at the angry mob. Or perhaps he took this second chance seriously, abandoned his violent past, and obeyed the law from that day forward.

We know that Barabbas received a physical second chance at life because Jesus took his place on the cross. In the same way, we receive a spiritual second chance because Jesus died in our place.

Barabbas was guilty and condemned to die, but an innocent man took his death sentence. Likewise, Christ died for us even though we are guilty:

• Romans 5:6-10: Christ died for us while we were still His enemies.
• Isaiah 53:4-6: The Lord laid all our iniquities (sins) on Him.

This concept of substitution—an innocent victim dying for the guilty—runs throughout the Old Testament. We see it in the animal sacrifices of the Law of Moses (Leviticus 16:6-10, 15-16). Since Jesus took our death sentence to give us eternal life, how will we use our second chance?

”Earn It”

The World War II film Saving Private Ryan tells the story of a squad of soldiers sent behind enemy lines to rescue Private James Ryan. Ryan’s three brothers had already been killed in combat, and the military wanted to send him home to his grieving mother.

During the mission to find him, and in the final battle to defend a key bridge, many of those soldiers are killed. As he lies dying, the squad’s leader, Captain Miller, looks at Ryan and whispers:

“Earn this.”

The captain wanted Ryan to live a life worthy of the lives sacrificed to save him. Decades later, an elderly James Ryan stands at Captain Miller’s grave. Looking back on his life, he asks his wife for reassurance:

“Tell me I’ve led a good life. Tell me I’m a good man.”

We owe a great debt to the soldiers who died for our physical freedom. But we owe a far greater debt to the One who died for our spiritual freedom. When we look at Jesus on the cross, the phrase “earn this” should echo in our ears. We did not deserve His sacrifice, yet He took the cross that belonged to us.

Walking Worthy of the Sacrifice

This does not mean we can actually earn our salvation. Nothing we do could ever buy a single drop of Jesus’ blood. Instead, living a godly life is our response of gratitude for His free gift.

Paul instructs us to “walk worthy of the calling” made possible by the cross (Ephesians 4:1-3). John similarly urges us to walk just as Jesus walked (1 John 2:5-6).

If someone died to save your life, you would want to learn all about them and honor their memory. Our lives should be lived to honor the Savior. Turning our backs on Him after such a sacrifice is a tragic rejection of grace (Hebrews 10:26-29).

We do not know what Barabbas did with his second chance. What will you do with yours? Will you live in a way that honors His love and sacrifice, or will you remain indifferent?

Honoring Jesus with the Lord’s Supper

Every Sunday, Christians gather around a table to share a memorial feast. The unleavened bread and fruit of the vine remind us of the body and blood of our Lord.

Let His sacrifice strike deep into your heart, and let His love transform how you live. Let it change your thoughts, your priorities, and your actions.

Honor Him by taking the Lord’s Supper with reverence and focus. Then, carry that honor with you as you leave the table and serve Him daily in the world.