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Pilate remembers a custom. Pilate’s wife sends Pilate a message.
Mathew 27: 19 says, while he was sitting on the judgment
seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that
innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because
of a dream about him.” While Pilate is distracted by his wife,
Mark 15: 11 says, “the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have
him release Barabbas for them instead.” They conspired to have
this man rather than Jesus released! This shows us the amount
of their resentment against Jesus. Willing to have a murderer
released instead of Jesus! Luke 23: 18-19 tells, “Then they all
shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas
for us!” (This was a man who had been put in prison for an
insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)”
Jesus Christ was substituted for Barabbas.
This substitutive choice of Barabbas was only to avoid
Jesus Christ. Actually, what was the reason? Why was Barabbas
at the expense of Jesus Christ? Who was the mastermind
behind the strategy? What was the impact of this choice? These
questions will further provoke us to look into the event in
spectacular ways.
There was a mob that cried for Barabbas. The cry denotes
the ‘imposed demand’ to destroy Jesus Christ. It means to finish
the gospel of the right way, the truth and the life. Jesus was
the movement of abundant life, the way of salvation, and the
ultimate truth. He introduced a counter-culture of divine values
against prevailing unjust and inhumane culture of empire. Jesus
movement was real challenge to the existing evil power alliance
between Roman-Jewish political and religious leaders- ‘an
unholy alliance’. Therefore, they tried their best and possible
ways to finish Jesus Christ, thereby, Jesus’ movement. As they
were waiting and prowling for the right opportunity, Barabbas
was their best option to victimize Jesus Christ at an earliest.
‘Be and becoming substitute for others’ is the mission of
Jesus Christ. Jesus’ movement is always other-oriented which is
inclusive and embrace all. It is coming out of love, forgiveness,

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Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People