Who was Barabbas?
Verrrrry interesting...
I love it when new light is shed on Scripture or when folks posit ideas that make you go 'hmmmm'. While reading some discussion today about the crucifixion of Christ someone stated:
"I find it wildly funny that most Christians are unaware of "Yehoshua Barrabbas" names' meaning. So... WHO was released again?"
To which another replied:
"No one. There isn't a Roman custom of releasing prisoners documented anywhere except the gospels. Unlikely this was historically true."
In case you aren't familiar with the above mentioned Scriptures surrounding Jesus Christ and Barabbas, find a Bible or Google up your favorite translation and see any of the Synoptic Gospel accounts (such as Luke 23).
Basically the story goes that Jesus of Nazareth was brought before Pontius Pilate accused of insurrection. Pilate found no fault with him but because of a custom that allowed one prisoner to be released he put Jesus of Nazareth and a prisoner named Barabbas in front of Jesus' accusers and asked them to choose who would be freed. The accusers infamously chose Barabbas to be freed and went crazy with cries of 'Crucify Him!' when Pilate asked what should become of the man from Nazareth.
Within the discussions I read there are apparently a number of questionable issues with this retelling (gasp!....I know, I know, I'm stepping on toes here) Two of those issues are covered in the quotes above:
1) Was there really a Roman custom of releasing a prisoner?
2) Who was this Barabbas guy?
The question of what Barabbas' name meant intrigued me because I had never known the first name of the freed prisoner prior to today. It caught my attention because me and Jesus have this thing...I love to call him "Yeshua"...And he has told me that he loves it when I do so...
Yeah...Me and Jesus - we're close like that. I love Jesus. :)
ANYWAY
According to some Scriptures this Barabbas guy was a thief and violent rebel (others just name him as Barabbas).
But how many of us have walked blithely through our lives retelling and reviewing this part of the story every Easter and never really looked at ol' Barabbas....
Starting with his first name.
Yehoshua.
AKA
Yeshua.
AKA
Jesus....
Ok, so Yehoshua probably was not an uncommon first name in the time and culture that this happened...Interesting coincidence but not really striking...Until you put that name together with his last name:
Barabbas
Which means:
'Son of the Father'
Jesus Son of the Father.
Whoah....What da...? What's going on here?
Well, I wasn't there. All I have to go on is what I read in the Scriptures and what we know from History. Per usual, there are a number of different ideas complete with full references and supporting evidence as to what minute details are accurate. Even the Synoptics don't fully agree on everything. When all is said and done, it doesn't matter all that much. Jesus of Nazareth was turned over to be crucified and that was that...
Still.....What if this whole Barabbas thing was more of a figurative thing? What if the only physical person standing with Pilate was Jesus of Nazareth? What if Pilate was asking of those people interested in Jesus' death 'which identity are you going to condemn this man for?' 'Son of God' or 'Messiah'?
Mind Blown.
And yet, that is so cool.
Not cool that Jesus was crucified for anything at all (though my faith informs me that this was ultimately a beautiful gift that Jesus gave to us) - but the very other level of the whole Barabbas episode that makes it such an interesting question.
For a more detailed essay about this, including references to the various ideas about what happened with 'Barabbas' please read: Jesus Barabbas by J.R. Lucas
I love it when new light is shed on Scripture or when folks posit ideas that make you go 'hmmmm'. While reading some discussion today about the crucifixion of Christ someone stated:
"I find it wildly funny that most Christians are unaware of "Yehoshua Barrabbas" names' meaning. So... WHO was released again?"
To which another replied:
"No one. There isn't a Roman custom of releasing prisoners documented anywhere except the gospels. Unlikely this was historically true."
In case you aren't familiar with the above mentioned Scriptures surrounding Jesus Christ and Barabbas, find a Bible or Google up your favorite translation and see any of the Synoptic Gospel accounts (such as Luke 23).
Basically the story goes that Jesus of Nazareth was brought before Pontius Pilate accused of insurrection. Pilate found no fault with him but because of a custom that allowed one prisoner to be released he put Jesus of Nazareth and a prisoner named Barabbas in front of Jesus' accusers and asked them to choose who would be freed. The accusers infamously chose Barabbas to be freed and went crazy with cries of 'Crucify Him!' when Pilate asked what should become of the man from Nazareth.
Within the discussions I read there are apparently a number of questionable issues with this retelling (gasp!....I know, I know, I'm stepping on toes here) Two of those issues are covered in the quotes above:
1) Was there really a Roman custom of releasing a prisoner?
2) Who was this Barabbas guy?
The question of what Barabbas' name meant intrigued me because I had never known the first name of the freed prisoner prior to today. It caught my attention because me and Jesus have this thing...I love to call him "Yeshua"...And he has told me that he loves it when I do so...
Yeah...Me and Jesus - we're close like that. I love Jesus. :)
ANYWAY
According to some Scriptures this Barabbas guy was a thief and violent rebel (others just name him as Barabbas).
But how many of us have walked blithely through our lives retelling and reviewing this part of the story every Easter and never really looked at ol' Barabbas....
Starting with his first name.
Yehoshua.
AKA
Yeshua.
AKA
Jesus....
Ok, so Yehoshua probably was not an uncommon first name in the time and culture that this happened...Interesting coincidence but not really striking...Until you put that name together with his last name:
Barabbas
Which means:
'Son of the Father'
Jesus Son of the Father.
Whoah....What da...? What's going on here?
Well, I wasn't there. All I have to go on is what I read in the Scriptures and what we know from History. Per usual, there are a number of different ideas complete with full references and supporting evidence as to what minute details are accurate. Even the Synoptics don't fully agree on everything. When all is said and done, it doesn't matter all that much. Jesus of Nazareth was turned over to be crucified and that was that...
Still.....What if this whole Barabbas thing was more of a figurative thing? What if the only physical person standing with Pilate was Jesus of Nazareth? What if Pilate was asking of those people interested in Jesus' death 'which identity are you going to condemn this man for?' 'Son of God' or 'Messiah'?
Mind Blown.
And yet, that is so cool.
Not cool that Jesus was crucified for anything at all (though my faith informs me that this was ultimately a beautiful gift that Jesus gave to us) - but the very other level of the whole Barabbas episode that makes it such an interesting question.
For a more detailed essay about this, including references to the various ideas about what happened with 'Barabbas' please read: Jesus Barabbas by J.R. Lucas
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