Sermons
March 13th, 2011 by Pastor Solley031311AM A Sinner Set Free
Sub. Barabbas
Theme: Barabbas set free
Text: Luke 23:1-24
“A Sinner Set Free” Luke 23:1-24
IntroductionIn Luke 23 we find the Lord Jesus Christ about to sacrifice His life for our sin on the cross of Calvary having been arrested by the Jewish high council and after a mock trial turned over to Rome. What Jesus Christ came into the world He was about to accomplish. That which was first promised in the book of Genesis, that which the Old Testament sacrifices pointed to was about to be fulfilled by Jesus Christ. All that happens here is of great importance. This is the center piece of all of human history.
I. I would like to look this morning at a sinner set free and the impact that should have had on his life: Luke 23:18 There are several people named in this chapter and countless others unnamed, people who were seen around the cross when Jesus Christ offered His life a sacrifice for sin.
A. In the first 24 verses of Luke 23 there are four people named we will look at this morning: And Jesus had an impact on all of their lives just as Christ has an impact on every life today. Some reject the Lord Jesus Christ and will spend eternity in hell, some receive Him and will spend eternity in heaven, but Christ does have an impact on every life even today just as He did then.
1. Here we find the sinless Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ: Luke 23:3, 8
2. Then there is Pilate, the one to whom Jesus was sent first: Luke 23:3
3. Next we see Herod, the one that Pilate tried to pass Jesus off to: Luke 23:8
4. And then there is Barabbas, the sinner who was set free: Luke 23:18
B. Barabbas was set for execution for certain crimes against Rome and man: Luke 23:18-19 The crime of sedition was against Rome, the crime of murder against man. Both crimes carried the penalty of death. Roman law condemned Barabbas for sedition, Hebrew Law condemned Barabbas for murder. Barabbas was a condemned man.
1. One of those three crosses that day was for Barabbas: It is thought that the other two were caught in the sedition with him.
2. But Jesus took the place of Barabbas that day: As they went to Calvary Barabbas was not among them, Jesus Christ was.
3. Barabbas was a sinner set free: Luke 23:18
II. Jesus Christ had a great impact on Barabbas that day: Brought out of the prison cell and stood before the people he knew he had no hope. Rome had pronounced sentence, Hebrew Law upheld it. It is thought that Pilate selected Barabbas to offer to the people because he was sure they would not accept him and let Jesus go free. But Pilate did not know the plan and purpose of God.
A. The people called for Barabbas to be set free: Luke 23:18 When they did this it gave Barabbas life and because of that I contend that Barabbas should have a life that changed that day. Jesus had an impact on Barabbas and that should have changed his life.
B. But did the events of that day change the life of Barabbas? We are given no indication in Scripture that they did or even that they didn’t. Barabbas disappears from the record of Scripture after the Christ is crucified. We don’t know what happened to Barabbas. But what took place that day should have changed his life, he should have become a most vocal disciple of Jesus Christ. Would you agree?
III. But shouldn’t Jesus Christ have that type of impact on our lives today? Think of what we know today that Barabbas did not know that day. We know of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we know of the ascension of Christ, we know of the gift of the Holy Spirit, we know of the beginning of His church. We know so much more than Barabbas did do we not? If the life of Barabbas should have been changed by Jesus Christ that day how much more our lives today? Our lives are to be impacted by Jesus Christ. But are they?
PROP: An analysis of the three men found in Luke 23 with Jesus will show us the impact Christ should have on our lives today.
Body
I. First, let us take noteof these three seen with Jesus that day: There were others seen with Jesus that day. There were the Roman soldiers, the Pharisees, the two crucified beside the Lord, the women before the cross, Simeon who carried His cross, Joseph who entombed His Body, and the multitude that called for His death. But we will look just at Pilate, Herod, and Barabbas.
2.
A. The first is Pilate, a man who knew who Jesus Christ was and is, but one who chose not to deal with Christ: Luke 23:1 One might think that Pilate did deal with Jesus having condemned Him to the cross, but in truth Pilate chose not to deal with Christ.
1. Pilate came to understand who Jesus Christ is: Luke 23:3; Matt 27:18-19; John 18:33-38; 19:7-12 Pilate knew who Christ is.
2. Pilate did all he could to get himself off the hook: John 19:12
3. Pilate sent Christ to Herod hoping not to see Him again: Luke 23:7-8
4. And then Pilate had Jesus scourged: John 19:1 It was not normal for a prisoner condemned to death to be scourged, Pilate did this for a reason.
a. During a Roman scourging the soldiers would often get carried away and the prisoner would die. They were not to kill the prisoner but it often happened and the soldiers were not held accountable and that just added to those incidents.
b. Pilate was hoping they would kill Jesus and he again would be off the hook.
5. Pilate was a man who knew who Jesus Christ was and is but chose not to deal with Him: If he did Christ would have bees set free.
B. Then there is Herod, a man who was curious about Jesus but only is a self gratifying way: Luke 23:8-9 Unlike Pilate Herod wanted to see Jesus. But to what end? Was Herod looking for a savior, for the Jewish Messiah? What did Herod want?
1. Herod simply wanted to see a show: Luke 23:8 Herod wanted to see a miracle. Wanted to see a lame man walk, hear a dumb man speak, see a blind man have sight restored, perhaps see one raised from the dead. He had heard of all of those things.
2. Herod wanted to see what he could get out of seeing Jesus: He is not looking to Jesus to find out more about Him, not looking for a savior, not looking for a Messiah, Herod was looking for a show.
3. When Herod found out he was not going to get out of Jesus what he wanted he sent Christ back to Pilate: Luke 23:9-11
4. There is a reason Jesus did not answer Herod: Herod was looking for Jesus for self gratification.
C. Then there is Barabbas: Luke 23:17-19 Barabbas was a condemned sinner but there was a custom adopted by Rome in Jerusalem that on the Jewish Passover a condemned man would be set free. This was to appease the Jews and in some way looked back to the Passover Lamb saving the first born from death in the exodus from Egypt. Rome was usually careful in who they released.
1. Barabbas was selected because they would not have him: Rome would not want him released because of the sedition, the Jews would not want him released because of the murder. Whatever the case, Pilate was sure they would not want Barabbas released.
2. But it didn’t work out that way: Luke 23:18 They called for the release of Barabbas and for Christ to be crucified.
3. Barabbas became a sinner set free:
II. Second, these three men represent three types of people who are easily seen today: In fact every person here is represented by at least one of these three men and perhaps more than one of them. To see this let us look at them again in reverse order.
A. There is Barabbas, the sinner set free: Luke 23:18-24 This man condemned by law represents us all.
1. By law each one of us stands as a guilty sinner before God: Rom 3:23; 5:12 And there are no exceptions to this law of God.
ILL. Even as I held my grandson and looked into his eyes the other day I began to pray for his salvation…
2. That one who stands and argues with this law, who says they have done nothing so bad as to be a sinner by nature is confronted with the fact that we are sinners by action as well: How strict is God’s holy standard. – Rev 21:7-8 You may look at this list and claim that you are innocent of the gross sins that are named here.
a. But I would challenge you on one named here. – Rev 21:8
b. And I would point out that your self righteous stand is pride and that is a sin itself. – Prov 6:16-17
c. Your secret wicked thoughts are sins as well. – Prov 6:18; Matthew 5:28
3. And the same law that makes us a sinner condemns us to hell: Rom 6:23; Rev 20:11-15
4. And no good work can save us from this law: Isa 64:6
5. But Jesus Christ took the place of Barabbas and set him free and did the same for us: 2 Corinthians 5:21
6. Barabbas represents all of us as a condemned sinner:
7. I pray Barabbas represents you as a sinner set free:
B. There is Herod Luke 23:8-9 The one who came to Jesus for all the wrong reasons. Herod represents many today.
3.
1. How many are sitting in churches today like this one not to glorify God, not to worship Christ, but for what they think they can get out of it? More amazing than the excuses people give for not going to church are the reasons some have for going.
2. Many think they can work their way into God’s good graces by going to church: And they couple that with other good works.
3. Some think they can make points with men: They want to look good in the eyes of others.
4. Many are like the self righteous Pharisee in prayer: Wanting to be seen of men.
5. Many are like Herod: They come before Jesus for what they think they may get out of it.
6. There may be some here today represented by Herod:
C. There is Pilate: Luke 23:3 That one who had a knowledge of who Jesus Christ is but would do nothing with Him, would not deal with Him, would not give his heart to Christ. – Luke 23:13-16
1. How many today have heard the plan of salvation but have decided to do nothing with it? And to hear God’s plan of salvation is to understand it for it is not hard.
a. How many have heard of sin and been confronted with it?
b. How many have heard of Jesus Christ being given into the world?
c. How many know of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. How many have heard all these things and know that something must be done? Just as Pilate knew something had to be done.
3. But how many like Pilate just pass Jesus off: They will deal with Him at a later time.
4. How many could there be here this morning represented by Pilate?
D. All of us are represented by at least one of these three men in one way or another:
1. You are represented by Barabbas as a sinner condemned by law:
2. You could be represented by Herod as one who comes before Jesus but for all the wrong reasons:
3. You could be represented by Pilate as one knowing who Jesus Christ is but choosing not to do anything with Him:
4. And you could be represented by Barabbas as a sinner set free:
5. Which one represents you today?
III. Third, I want you to consider the impact Christ should have had on Barabbas: Luke 23:18 In this I want to focus just on Barabbas. I do not think Pilate and Herod went through this encounter with Jesus without gaining more accountability before God but consider the sinner who was set free.
A. When Barabbas got up that morning he was a condemned sinner, that afternoon he was a free man: We are not told what happened to Barabbas after this. There are many traditions about him claiming that he witnessed Christ crucified, that he became even a greater enemy of Rome and so on. But we are never told what happened to him.
1. But could we agree that this should have changed him?
2. But I wonder; did it change Barabbas?
B. If you will allow me this liberty this morning I know what should have happened to Barabbas, what he should have done: With what Jesus Christ did for him that day I know what Barabbas should have done, I know what is only reasonable.
1. Barabbas should have looked at the Son of God in faith and for forgiveness as Jesus hung on that cross for him: The voice of Barabbas should have been heard with the repentant thief calling out for forgiveness and salvation.
2. Barabbas should have been with Joseph of Arimathaea asking for the body of Jesus: Barabbas should have wanted to do something, anything for the one who died in his place.
3. Barabbas should have gathered with the disciples in the upper room: He should have longed to be with those who walked with Jesus so he could have learned more about Jesus.
4. Barabbas should have been with the 120 as they gathered to choose the one to take the place of Judas: He should have begged for them to pick him just because of what Jesus did for him.
5. Barabbas should have been with them on the day of Pentecost as the Holy Spirit was given: Barabbas should have been numbered with those filled with the Spirit glorifying Jesus Christ.
6. Barabbas should have been a witness for Jesus Christ:
4.
7. Barabbas should have given his life to Jesus Christ who gave His life for him:
8. Would those things have been too much to ask? Rom 12:1 Would that have been too much to ask of Barabbas?
C. If you are a sinner set free is that too much to ask of you today? Rom 12:1-2 If you are a sinner set free is that too much to ask of you today? Just think for a moment of what Jesus Christ did for you and ask yourself that question. Is that too much to ask of me?
1. Is it too much to ask for us to assemble when His church meets? Heb 10:25-26 Is that too much to ask?
2. Is it too much to ask that we work for Him? Eph 2:10 Is that too much to ask?
3. Is it too much to ask for us to witness for Him: Mark 16:15 Is that too much to ask?
4. Is it too much to ask for us to humbles ourselves before Him? 1 Peter 5:6 Is that too much to ask?
5. Is it too much to ask for us to give our all for Him? Is that too much to ask?
D. It may have been too much for Barabbas but it should not be too much for us: Remember we know more than Barabbas did.
1. It is not too much to ask for me to be here this evening, be here Wednesday evening: That is not too much to ask.
2. It is not to much to ask for me to work for Him: To do anything in his name.
a. To work on the camp, work on the church, to do anything for Him.
b. That is not too much to ask.
3. It is not too much to ask for me to be a witness for Him: To be at the home tomorrow night, to go out Tuesday night, to hand out tracts, to tell others about Jesus. That is not too much to ask.
4. It is not too much to ask for me to give my all for Him: That is not too much to ask.
5. Not too much to ask to sing in the choir: That is not too much to ask.
E. With what Jesus Christ did for sinners set free nothing is too much to ask:
Conclusion
Having analyzed the three named with Jesus in Luke 23:1-24 what can we now say?
I. You are represented by one of these three in at least one way:
A. One condemned sinner as Barabbas was:
B. One coming to Jesus for all the wrong reasons as Herod did:
C. One knowing who Jesus is but not wanting to deal with him as Pilate was:
D. Or a sinner set free:
II. If you are that sinner set free what impact has Jesus Christ had on your life? We know what should have happened to Barabbas. His life should have been changed by Christ, should have been given to Christ.
III. Does Jesus Christ have your all today? Or is that too much to ask?