Unvarnished Jesus: A Lenten JourneyEjemplo

Wednesday, April 3

Luke 23:13–25

5th Station of the Cross: Jesus Is Condemned by Pilate

Who was Barabbas? He wasn’t a common criminal, but a national hero. Barabbas was  revolutionary leader who had led an insurrection against the Roman occupation and killed someone — probably a Roman soldier or a Jewish collaborator. Some ancient manuscripts give us the revolutionary’s full name: Jesus Barabbas, that is, Jesus Son of the Father. Jesus Barabbas is a rival messiah, a rival to Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus Barabbas advocated killing our enemies; Jesus of Nazareth taught us to love our enemies. If we think that killing our enemies is compatible with Christian ethics, we are in effect saying, “Give us Barabbas!” But Lent is the time to repent; it’s the time to rethink everything in the light of Christ.