“Give us Barabbas!” Charles Louis Muller

It’s easy to view biblical events in a vacuum. Rarely are they taught along side, or harmonized with, other historical events. As well, many timelines are void of Biblical events,  resulting in an inferred mythologizing to even the faithful. During Christ’s Life, Death, Resurrection, and well after His Ascension, Israelites were ruled by Rome. In fact, during 27 BC to 395 AD, most of the known world was under the empirical rule of Rome.

This is why we see Pontius Pilate as Prefect over Judea during the Crucifixion of Christ. These events lend an astonishing testimony to the historicity of the Bible unlike any other book of antiquity. What’s more, if we spend enough time in the text, it can flesh out characters that are only briefly mentioned.

As already stated, Judea was under Roman rule. Another term we use today is military occupation. This is why we see Roman soldiers throughout the Gospel and Christ’s Crucifixion. With little imagination I’m sure we can spend a moment envisioning the same struggles of the indigenous people then, that we see now. Fear of the martial law that rules without consent and regard, hopelessness from the loss of identity and liberty, and the burden of taxation are, to quickly name a few, dominant feelings among them. Fear, loss, and anger are natural outcomes from the loss of freedom and autonomy.

With that denouement, it shouldn’t take long to imagine there was resistance, as there always is. In America we have a particular place for resistance in our hearts and history. This nation was born of a resistance to an increasing tax burden and hostile military presence. Are we to imagine that no one resisted amongst the Jews? Again we might, reading the Gospels in a vacuum. However, it would be right to infer there was, judging by typical human behavior. As well, there may be clues in the Gospel.

Barabbas is always described as a criminal, or rabble rouser, in general discussion or a majority of preaching. The words the Apostles use might be a bit more telling. He was a notorious rebel and insurrectionist, to paraphrase the Gospels with a little more accuracy. So who was he a rebelling against? It’s more than likely the Roman occupation.

The curious thing about history is the way it is usually recorded using some sort of bias. Napoleon is attributed with the quote, “History is written by the winners.” There is much truth in this statement, even if it’s down to the nuances of words but maintaining an accuracy in the story. This is the difference between “insurrectionist” and “revolutionary.” Indeed, even “patriot.”

The Revolutionaries of the British colonies in North America won, therefore they are patriots. What if they would have lost? Unquestionably, the history books would regard them as insurrectionists.

So where does that leave us with Barabbas? It’s something Christians need to consider as they praise any action from men memorialized in our hearts as patriots. To some, Barabbas was a patriot. He murdered men in his revolution. Men that taxed him and his people; men that most assuredly violated rights of the Jews that we might enumerate as the 10 amendments. As well, in a parallel world, the colonists’ insurrection evaded taxes and murdered troops, that to others, needed to be supported.

And on the day that Barabbas was released, he stood alongside another Bar Abba (“Son of the Father”). One fought and murdered for his people; the other would soon die for His people. One cheered, the other scorned.

Who do we look like here? Who do our heroes look like? When the crowd rejected the Messiah, they also affirmed that their trust was in a natural, political savior.
Passages concerning Barabbas:

Matthew [27:15]–26; 
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
¹⁵ Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶ And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. ¹⁹ Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” ²⁰ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹ The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²² Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³ And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Mark 15:6–15; 
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
⁶ Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. ⁷ And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. ⁸ And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them.⁹ And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. ¹² And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” ¹³ And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” ¹⁴ And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” ¹⁵ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Luke [23:18]–24; 
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
¹⁸ But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— ¹⁹ a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. ²⁰ Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²² A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” ²³ But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.

John [18:40]
After [Pilate] had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. ³⁹ But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

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