Barabbas or Christ, the choice is still being made.

Matthew 27:15-31

¹⁵ Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶ At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the people gathered together, 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 because of envy they had handed Him over.

¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” ²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. ²¹ But the governor 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, “Crucify Him!” ²³ And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” ²⁵ And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. ²⁸ They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. ²⁹ And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. ³¹ After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas. Pilate, the Roman governor, was looking for a way out. His wife had sent word to him that she had been warned in a dream to have nothing to do with this righteous man. Pilate assumed that if he gave the people a choice between Jesus, the one who they had less than a week before celebrated at His arrival and Barabbas, a notorious criminal, surely they would choose to have Jesus released. The power of sin and darkness to affect a mob is an amazing and terrible thing. We see this type of mass hysteria in our society today. Mobs of people can be influenced to do things they would not normally do. A few people with their own agenda stir up a crowd of people, the violence and uncontrollable behavior that follows is incomprehensible. If the news cameras were able to see and record the spirit realm we would see the true source and motivation behind every angry mob. It was present that day in Jerusalem and was present also recently in Ferguson and other cities in this country. Ephesians 6:12 says: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Evil begets evil and there is no way in the natural physical realm to gain victory over people who have given into darkness, subduing them physically only fuels the calls for rebellion. Evil can only be overcome with good.   The peace and love of God are the only things that can truly change people. They need a personal encounter with and a revelation of Jesus.

Mobs are only a group of individuals. The same power of darkness that creates an angry mob from a group of people works in individual lives. On an individual or personal level it is not necessarily people with an agenda who influence us but rather we are tempted in our thoughts. People don't choose to participate in deviant and abhorant behavior without falling first in lessor temptations. The choice of Christ or Barabbas seems simple when we are thinking clearly. But, as we fail to resist temptation and allow sin and darkness to blind us we soon can become persuaded to choose Barabbas over Christ. Just as with the mob, there is no logic or natural power that can change a person who has been darkened by sin.  We can not convince people to change. We can not force change upon them by subduing them and controlling their behavior.  Only a revelation of Christ can change an individual. We need to fight for people not with them. While the expression of love may require some tough treatment. Our best chance for winning them to Christ lies in the spiritual realm where,  the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.(2 Corinthians 10:4) As hard as it may be, often the best strategy we can have in fighting for people, particularly our loved ones, is to intercede more and interfere less. It is after all the Holy Spirit who convicts people of sin and brings a revelation of Christ to their life. 

Verses 27-31 talk about those in authority mocking Jesus. Unfortunately, this too can be seen in our culture, society and even in far too many of those in authority today. One professional athlete is congratulated and celebrated for speaking out concerning his homosexual lifestyle, while another is mocked for his values and faith in Christ. The same standards occur in the entertainment industry and even in every day work places and schools throughout our country. Sin is celebrated and Christ is mocked. It's okay to call the murder of an unborn baby a women's choice. But it's not okay for a student to choose to write an essay or report about Christ. We may not be able to change the direction our society and our authorities have gone. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try. But we must remember that for every action we take in the physical realm try to change the way things are, we should take equal or greater action in the spiritual realm, where we have true authority in Christ.

Jesus says:  upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”  

We also need to remember that while we might not keep others from mocking Jesus, we are called to be His witnesses. That might mean that we too are mocked and hated.

John 15:18-25   ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ He who hates Me hates My Father also. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. ²⁵ But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ 

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Thank You that You have overcome evil with good. That You Heavenly Father  so loved the world, that You gave Your only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Thank You Jesus that though they persecuted, hated and mocked You, You loved them and me, saying, Father forgive them they know not what they are doing. Thank You Holy Spirit, that You are my guide, You are the one who brings revelation of Christ to the hearts of men. Thank You that You allow me the privilege of joining You in Your continuing work.  Amen