What Happened To Barabbas After His Release?

Mark 15:15
So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

In order to please the people, Pilate released Barabbas, but detained Jesus, whipped Him and sent Him to be crucified.

Who was Barabbas? He was mentioned in all of the four gospels.

Matthew 27:16
And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

Mark 15:7
And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.

Luke 23:18-19
18 And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”—
19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.

John 18:40
Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Barabbas was a bandit, robbing and plundering others. He was thrown into prison for a certain rebellion he had made in the city. He was also charged for murder. And in prison, he was notorious, well-known for his bad qualities and criminal deeds. Therefore, he was chained with his fellow rebels.

The name of Barabbas means “son of the father” (bar abba). In the whole Bible, there was only one person with this name. Interestingly, the full name of this person was Jesus Barabbas.

Matthew 27:16-17 (NIV)
16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas.
17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

In ancient Israel, Jesus was a common first name. The crowd was given a choice to make a decision between two persons having the same first name - Jesus Barabbas or Jesus Christ? A notorious criminal, murderer, rebel and robber or a loving Shepherd and Saviour?

But the crowd chose Barabbas to be released and demanded Jesus of Nazareth to be crucified. What a choice! Multitudes still make wrong choices today!

There was a custom that at Passover, the Roman governor would release a prisoner of the crowd's choice. This custom of releasing prisoners at Passover was known as the Paschal Pardon.

Mark 15:6
Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.

Matthew 27:15
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.

John 18:39
“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus Christ took the place of Jesus Barabbas! And Barabbas was released! But what happened to Barabbas after his release? Interestingly, the Bible did not have any records about that.

However, some ancient sources and traditions did have a few reports about Barabbas. According to one tradition, he went to Golgotha and witnessed the death of Christ on the cross. Some sources said that he took part in another revolt against the Romans, and was killed.

Without any further information from the Bible, it is still good for us to ponder over the life of Barabbas and learn some important lessons.

Barabbas was a murderer, both notorious and guilty. He faced a death sentence. But through the divine love of God, he was set free. Taking his place was Jesus Christ, who was both loving and innocent.

The cruel cross was made for this murderous criminal, but God loved him and spared his life by allowing His only begotten Son to take his place.

The agape love of God was clearly shown in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Like Barabbas, all of us are sinners, dead in our trespasses and sins, and destined to death. But Christ died for us. He died not only for Barabbas but also for us.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Barabbas was set free. He might have gone to Golgotha, and witnessed the death of Christ. He might probably repent, believe in the Lord and receive eternal salvation. But he might also have mocked the death of Christ, reliving his old life of sins and leading another revolt against the Romans and eventually be killed.

We may never know what happened to Barabbas after his release. But we must know what happened to us after God has forgiven our sins. What have we done with the gift of salvation that God has given through our Lord Jesus Christ?

Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

1 Peter 2:24
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

We are to be dead to sins, but alive to God! No longer living for sins but for righteousness. We must begin and continue to live for Christ!

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

This is what the Lord required of us after He has forgiven our sins - go and sin no more!

John 8:10-12
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

We are called out of darkness into His marvelous light! We should not continue to walk and live in darkness! We should walk in His light and love!

John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Are we loving darkness rather than light? Are our deeds evil? Are we still practicing evil? Do we hate the light and do not come to the light, lest our deeds are exposed?

Or are we loving light rather than darkness? Are our deeds acceptable in the sight of God? Are we practicing righteousness? Do we love the light and come to the light, living a transparent and holy life before God?

What is happening to us after God has forgiven us?

Written on: 20 April 2019