Jesus or Barabbas
DeVries provides an expositional meditation on Matthew 27:17-23, examining the trial of Jesus before Pilate and the multitude's choice between Jesus and Barabbas. The article emphasizes God's sovereign direction of these events and how the scene exposes the deepest intentions of human hearts, drawing out theological implications about Christ's person and God's providential governance of history.
"Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ…." Matthew 27:17-23 How our Savior suffered! What awful reproach He bore! Following His agony in Gethsemane, Christ had been captured in the garden. He had willingly surrendered Himself to His enemies who had come with swords and staves as if Christ were some dangerous criminal. Before the Sanhedrin Christ had been convicted and condemned to death....
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org