ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON BAR ABBAS AND HIS EXCHANGE FOR YESHUA

 As we close out the Spring Feast of Unleavened Bread here is more on Bar Abbas’ exchange for Yeshua at Passover. This information is by Ariel Ministries; https://www.ariel.org/ a wealth of information.

Barabbas was a robber, insurrectionist, and murderer. He hated the Romans and was involved in harassing them in order to get them out of Palestine. Barabbas is his Hellenized name. The writers of the gospels did not want to confuse the readers. Bar = Son of, and Abba = Father. His first name was Yeshua = Salvation, son of the Father is the meaning of the name.

He had the title--but not the reality. He was the one guilty of serious crimes--not Jesus.

This procedure is interrupted briefly when Pilate gets a note from his wife pleading for him to release “this righteous man” of which she had dreams about that very night. This gives the chief priests plenty of time to incite the crowd to demand the release of Bar Abba.

The next attempt to release Jesus was to have him scourged. There were two types of scourging: Jewish and Roman.

Jewish was 40, save one (39). The Mosaic law forbade more than forty lashes. The Jews would count 39 and stop in order to not err and give too many lashes. Jewish lashes were short leather that only hurt the person’s back. Painful but not deadly. The Apostle Paul survived five Jewish scourges.

 Roman scourging had no limits on the amount of lashings. The lashes were long leather with a piece of glass or bone on the ends to inflict severe bodily harm. The long leather lashes would wrap around the entire body or face inflicting great harm. Many did not survive--Jesus would have been disfigured by this scourging. This fulfilled Isaiah 52.13-53.12 in that he was maimed and disfigured.

He suffered greatly--and had already been pummeled twice before this. Pilate hopes this will satisfy the mob and for the third time says he finds no reason to execute Jesus.

He then tries to turn Jesus over to the chief priests. They then change the sedition charge into Jesus proclaiming he is the Son of God. Pilate speaks to Jesus in private urging him to speak because he can have Jesus executed. Jesus tells Pilate, “All power is delegated from above.” Jesus also tells him those who brought him here will be guilty of greater sin than Pilate.

 Pilate makes a 5^th attempt to release Jesus. He is told if he releases this man that he is no “friend of Caesar.” Pilate responds by moving to the judgment seat in order to pass sentence. Why has this comment caused him to do this?

Pilate was in a difficult position because his good friend, Janus, who was captain of Caesar’s guard had got him this position. Later Janus was involved in a conspiracy to oust Caesar and proclaim himself as emperor. Pilate would have been under close scrutiny because he was Janus’ friend--he did not want to be accused of treason by releasing a man proclaiming to be a king.

He makes a final attempt to clear Jesus by bringing him out and proclaiming, “Behold your King!” The crowd responds by saying, “We have no king but Caesar.” Pilate makes no further attempt to release Jesus. He washes his hands in front of the mob saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood!” The crowd responds, “His blood be on us and our children!”

Only Matthew mentions this in his gospel--he is the writer focused on the unpardonable sin. Notice they said, “Us and our children.” There is no mention of the 3^rd and 4^th generation. They will receive their wish in 70 AD when the temple and Jerusalem are destroyed.

Pilate and the gentiles are not absolved either. Only Pilate could have Jesus executed--he gave into the mob out of his fear. Acts 3 points out his guilt and the Apostle’s Creed also mentions Pilate. In 36 AD Pilate was disposed and banished to Gaul—tradition says he would later commit suicide--he paid his price.

 Jesus is given the death sentence and Yeshua Bar Abba is released. A symbolic substitution takes place--an innocent will die in place of the guilty!