“Barabbas or Christ?” Jesus in Pilate’s Hall Matthew 27:15-21

The Obvious Choice  Matthew 27:15-21 Eternal Creator – Foul Creature Savior of men – Destroyer of men

The Obvious Choice Acts 8:32-33 – The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; & as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away [he was deprived of justice], & who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth” (Isa 53:7-8).

The Obvious Choice John 10:17-18 – Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, & I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.

The Wrong Choice  To reject Truth (righteousness) is to accept Untruth (unrighteousness). Josh 24:15 – “choose for yourselves this day WHOM you will serve” Rom 6:16 – …to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

The Wrong Choice Isa 53:3 – He is despised & rejected by men, a Man of sorrows & acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, & we did not esteem Him. John 1:11 – He came to His own, & His own did not receive Him.

The Woeful Outcome  God removed His hedge of protection from these people. Psa 18:1 – I will love You, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress & my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

The Woeful Outcome  Josephus – “I cannot but imagine that virtue itself groaned at these men’s case, & lamented that she was so terribly conquered by wickedness…They fell upon the people as upon a flock of profane animals, & cut their throats, they were destroyed in whatsoever place they caught them….because God had doomed this city to destruction, as a polluted city.”

The Woeful Outcome Acts 2:23-24 – Him, being delivered by the determined purpose & foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, & put to death; 24 whom God raised up Acts 3:14-15 – But you denied the Holy One & the Just, & asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 & killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead...

“Barabbas or Christ?”  Sinful pleasure OR Spiritual duty (Luke 15).  Worldly Friendships OR Christian fellowship (Rom 12:10).  Culture OR God’s family values (Eph 5-6).  Forsake OR Assemble (Heb 10:25).  Personal concerns OR Kingdom concerns (Phil 2:1-4; Matt 6:33).  Shame & fear OR Confident Acceptance & Obedience to Christ (Lk 9:26).

“Barabbas or Christ?” “How will you decide?”

Salvation From Sin: Eternal Life Faith in Jesus Christ through the Gospel John 8:24; 20:30-31; Rom 1:16; 10:9-10; Mark 16:16; Heb 11:6 Repent or turn from sins Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30-31 Confess faith in Christ Matt 10:32-33; Acts 8:36-38; Rom 10:9-10 Be immersed in water Matt 28:19; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3-4; 1 Pet 3:21 Live in obedient faith Heb 5:8-9; 1 Peter 1:14; Rev 2:10