1. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Herod Barabbas

2. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Herod
Who was this Herod Antipas?
Son of Herod the Great – baby killer
Ten wives, many children – a lot murdered
Augustus said it was better to be one of his pigs than a wife.
Divided Herod the Great’s kingdom
Archelaus – Judea, Samaria, Idumea in south
Philip – Decapolis to the east
Antipas – Galilee, Perea to the north
Had John the Baptist killed – Herodias

3. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Herod
Jesus in Herod’s court is only recorded in Luke 23:6-12.

4. Luke 23:6-12 (ESV)
6  When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.
7  And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.
8  When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.
9  So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer.

5. 10  The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.
11  And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.
12  And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

6. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Herod
Jesus in Herod’s court is only recorded in Luke 23:6-12.
Herod knew of Jesus – “what he had heard.”
Herod had a certain curiosity – “greatly pleased.”
Herod looked at this incident as entertainment.
Jesus never speaks.

7. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Herod
Herod was curious but not in a good way.
God will not reveal the precious things of His Word to idle curiosity.
Nicodemus had curiosity – John 3:4.
Woman at the well – John 4:11-12
Herod had heard rumors of Jesus from John the Baptist and even from his steward Chuza and his wife Joanna – Luke 8:3.

8. Luke 8:3 (ESV)
3  and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

9. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Herod
Herod “rejoiced at seeing Jesus.”
Herod was “greatly pleased.”
Herod “hoped to see a miracle performed.”
Herod was “exceedingly glad.”
We want to see marvelous things from Jesus, like our will changed, seeking Him with all our heart, conviction of sin, being made like Jesus!
Herod was only interested in the frivolous.

10. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Herod
Herod had been perverted through the hardening effect of sin.
Adam and Eve hid from God – Genesis 3:10.
Isaiah fell back – Isaiah 6:5.
Peter asked Jesus to go away – Luke 5:8.
Proper steps of conviction of sin
Lead to repentance
Lead to faith in Jesus

11. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Herod
Steps in Herod’s fall
There was a genuine conviction of sin but not a willingness to depart from it.
Herod wished to be religious and keep his sin.
He attempted to still the voice of conscience – John the Baptist.
He turned to superstition – Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead.
Superstition turned to raw unbelief.
Herod turned to mocking.

12. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Important because it is recorded in all four Gospels!
Who is this Barabbas?
A robber – John 18:40
A rebel and murderer – Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19
A notorious prisoner – Matthew 27:16
Pilate’s plan was foolproof, or was it?

13. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Pilate tries to satisfy both God, who speaks from within, and the world, which speaks from without – “riding the fence.”
Why did the crowd choose Barabbas?
Barabbas was one of them.
He was controllable – they could handle him.
Barabbas was not asking anything of them.
Barabbas might exploit you, but he will not ask to run your life.

14. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Barabbas is the story of a sinner’s salvation through Jesus’ death at Calvary.
Barabbas means “son of a father” – us!
He had been found guilty and sentenced to death.
He was awaiting the sentence to be finally carried out.
Then comes his substitute – Jesus!

15. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
This is described for us in 2 Corinthians 5:21.

16. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
21  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

17. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
This is described for us in 2 Corinthians 5:21.
I deserved Hell.
Jesus took my Hell.
All that is left for me is Heaven.
Jesus was bound so that Barabbas (we) could be set free.
Barabbas was pardoned and set free!

18. Are You Barabbas? John 18:38-40
Application
Are you mocking God like Herod?
As an unbeliever, curious but not serious?
As a believer in Jesus for salvation, but nothing more?
Have you been freed from your death sentence (spiritual) like Barabbas (physical)?
Has it changed your life?