You'll just want to take your Bibles and go with me to the book of Mark, Mark chapter number 15. Mark chapter number 15, and we're looking today at the beginnings of the cruel trial of our Savior. And I want to pay close attention here to the first 15 verses of Mark chapter number 15. We'll take our text this morning. The Bible says, beginning in verse number 1, Mark chapter number 15, The Bible says, "...and straightway in the morning the chief priest held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council and bound Jesus and carried him away and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, Are thou the king of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. And the chief priest accused him of many things, but he answered, Nothing. And Pilate Ask him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? Behold, how many things they witness against thee! But Jesus yet answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them, that had made insurrection with him who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude, crying aloud, began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the king of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the king of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them and delivered Jesus when he had scourged him to be crucified." There's lots of things going on in this passage of Scripture. There's a name repeated three times in these 15 verses that I want to pay close attention to this morning as we follow the Lord's leadership. Verse number 7, the Bible says, and there was one named Barabbas. The Bible says in verse number 11, The chief priest moved the people that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. In verse number 15, the Bible says, So Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them and delivered Jesus when he had scourged him to be crucified. Barabbas. Now, Barabbas is an interesting character here in the Scriptures and one that the Bible pays much attention to. He's mentioned in the Gospels over and over again. in this context and in this setting. Barabbas. On this day, we watch the leaders of the Jews, the Jewish religious leaders, choose Barabbas. On this day, we watch the Jewish mob led and led astray by the Jewish leaders, but doing their own thing, choosing Barabbas. And we see Pilate on this day choosing Barabbas. Instead of Christ, they chose Barabbas. Instead of choosing the Savior, they chose Barabbas. And we look at this story, and knowing the end from the beginning, and knowing the Scriptures, we think, sometimes it's easy for me to think, wow, I would never do that. Wow, I would never do that, but quite frankly, I'm convinced as I study the Scripture, the Holy Spirit has convicted me of the fact that there are times in my life and the times in the lives of God's people, church-going, faithful people just like us, that instead of Christ, we choose Barabbas. We choose something that is not right over something that is pure and righteous. We choose something that cannot save. over something that can save. We choose something that cannot deliver over something that can. And may we learn today from this man Barabbas. The Bible teaches us, speaking of Barabbas in the book of Matthew, he says that Barabbas was a notable prisoner. He was somebody that everybody knows. This guy had a reputation, Barabbas. In the book of Mark, he's a murderer. In the book of John, he is a robber. And we'll look here as we study the Scriptures together and think about old Barabbas. The story goes something like this. Every year, the Roman leader, at this time of the faith released some prisoner now the romans were notorious they were notorious for capturing uh... insurrectionist an insurrection somebody who was standing up against rome as here someone who was moving against roman they were notorious for for capturing these guys in capturing criminals in every year they would let someone out the religious jewish leaders delivered jesus to the roman guard and to pilot pilot says you know i don't see any reason crucify this man just as they'd like for me to as a matter of fact pilot says he says i know the only reason that the jewish leaders even brought jesus to his because they're full of envy uh... you say jesus could do miracles and i couldn't Jesus could expound and teach the Word, and they couldn't. Jesus was able to do the work, and they couldn't. And so for envy, they delivered Jesus up. Pilate, in a cowardly moment, unwilling to stand on principle and what's right, he said, OK, I've got a plan. I know what to do. Surely this mob of people, as badly as they dislike Jesus, surely instead of releasing barabas a notable criminal a murderer surely they'll say uh... well you know if you have to put it that way will choose jesus instead of a rather surely but the mob cried out delivered us barabas the leaders cried out deliver us delivered us barabas and pilot that day just to make everybody happy you know he did He delivered them Barabbas. May we learn today something from God's Word. The first thing I want to draw your attention to this morning is this. The religious leaders chose Barabbas. The religious leaders chose Barabbas. The Bible says in verse 1, in a straight way, in the morning, the chief priest held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council and bound Jesus and carried him away and delivered him to Pilate. I want you to see what's going on here. These are the Jewish religious leaders. Now, they have come to Jesus and they say, this man is guilty of blasphemy. Why had they decided that we have right to bring charges against Jesus? Because he was guilty of blasphemy. What had he said? He had admitted to being the king of the Jews. He had admitted to being the son of God. He had declared equality with God the Father. And because of this, they said, aha, we got it. Now, if they had paid attention to the Old Testament law that they declared they believed, if they had paid attention to the Scriptures that they declared they believed, if they had paid close attention and studied the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, they would have known that, in fact, the Jesus that was before them was the fulfillment of everything they had preached. But the religious rulers of this day were so ingrained in doing the things they had wanted to do, the way they wanted to do it, and they had so removed themselves from the actual Scriptures and to the traditions of men that they were willing to turn a blind eye. I want you to remember something about this group of people. When Jesus was born, There was a group of religious leaders that was in this council, that was in this group that are mentioned the whole council in verse number one. There were folks in this group when Jesus was born, and there was a ruckus over a star in Bethlehem. There were religious leaders in this day who said, said, we know what's happening, that there's going to be a baby born in Bethlehem that's going to be the next Savior, that's going to be the fulfillment of the law, that's going to be the Christ that we've been preaching and looking for. I mean, there were people in this group who had already looked at the Scripture and said, yeah, He's coming to Bethlehem, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem. There were people who understood all the prophecies, and Jesus had completely and perfectly fulfilled them. And now He's fulfilling the prophecy as a lamb done before His shearers. He opened not His mouth. The more these folks screamed and yelled and accused, the more silent and quiet that our Savior was in fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture. Now I want you to know what these religious leaders were doing. They were choosing something lesser than Christ. They were choosing something less important than biblical faith. They were choosing Barabbas. This whole council came together. The Bible says they bound Jesus. And they bound Jesus, charging Jesus, accusing Jesus of blasphemy. The Bible says in verse number two, they've delivered him to Pilate. The Bible says in verse two, and Pilate asked him, Art thou the king of the Jews? And he answered and said unto him, Thou sayest it, that you just said it. He affirms again that he is the king of the Jews. Pilate asked him. Now what's interesting to me is that they've brought Jesus, the Jewish mob, the Jewish leaders have brought him out of their Jewish court. by the way added on a day that it was illegal court of the old testament wall to have jewish court they've brought jesus at a time that was it was against the old testament wall to have a trial in the dark hours of the early early morning on the eve of the sabbath these jewish leaders disregarding all truth that they so claim to have They take Jesus to Pilate. I want you to know something. Pilate couldn't care less. Pilate is a Roman leader. Pilate couldn't care less if a man blasphemed Jehovah God. He couldn't care less if Jesus Christ of neither spoke up and said, I'm equal with Jehovah God. I'm the king of the Jews. He couldn't have cared less. In Pilate's mind, there was no king other than Caesar, king of Egypt. In Pilate's mind, there was no real crime committed against him, if a man wanted to be the leader of the Jews. Who cares? And so this mob of people, they changed the accusation on Christ from blasphemy to something like insurrection. He is trying to pilot. He's trying to gather up a group of people against Rome. Normally, the Jewish people would have been for being against Rome. But in this case, they carry Christ to pilot. The Bible says in verse number 3, the chief priest accused him of many things. But he answered nothing. They accuse him, they accuse him, they accuse him. Pilate, hearing all the accusations, these religious leaders, what were they doing? They were standing up against Jesus. And these religious leaders were making these accusations. They were trying to say anything they could to make him angry and make him to speak up and speak out. But he answered nothing. The Bible says in verse number 4, Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? Behold, how many things they witness against thee? Pilate couldn't believe it. He's just sitting there taking it. And all the while we know that it's our Savior fulfilling the Old Testament law. Verse number 5, But Jesus yet answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. Pilate marveled. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired, And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them, that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude, crying aloud, began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the king of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy." Why were they so set against delivering Christ? I'll tell you. They were so set against delivering Christ to be crucified because Jesus messed up their religious practice. Jesus messed up their power structure. Jesus messed up the way they earned their money. Jesus messed up their lifestyle. Folks, I want you to know something. If Jesus messes up anything in your life, it needs to be messed up. If Jesus messes up the way you earn a living, you're earning a living the wrong way. If Jesus messes up the way you talk to people, you're talking to people the wrong way. If Jesus destroys your business, your business is wrong. And these folks said, you know what? We're envious of Jesus because Jesus is messing things up the way we like them and the way we want them. Jesus is messing everything up. They didn't have enough character and enough desire and enough sense to obey the Old Testament law that they said they believed. They didn't have enough sense to see the fulfillment of everything that they had preached and represented for all those years. And when the choice was given them, a critical moment in their life to accept or reject Jesus, What did they choose? Barabbas. They chose Barabbas. I can't help but think that there may be folks here today that you've never been saved. You've never humbled yourself and asked Jesus to come into your heart and be your Lord and Savior. And you think, if I get saved, I'm going to have to give up that. Folks, I'll just tell you something. If that is standing between you and Jesus, it is a Barabbas. It is inferior. It is deadly. It is wicked. And it's not helping you. It's hurting you. It's not empowering you. It is crippling you. It is not enabling you. It is destroying you. Because anything that stands between you and Jesus is a Barabbas. And Barabbas is bad. You know what these Jewish religious leaders did? They chose Barabbas. You see, on the outside, they had the appearance that everything was just fine. But on the inside, their hearts were black and charred like the walls of hell. And oh, if they didn't, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, repent of their sins and turn to Christ, they've spent thousands of years regretting that they chose Barabbas. What did the religious leaders do? They chose Barabbas. What was their reasoning? Lifestyle. They chose Barabbas. Why? Because they were envious? They chose Barabbas. Why? Because they got a little chip on their shoulder? Folks, I want you to know something. If you choose Barabbas, you've done a terrible thing. Number two, the Jewish mob. The Jewish mob chose Barabbas. Look at what the Bible says in verse number 11. The Bible says, "...but the chief priest moved the people, and he should rather release Barabbas unto them." Now this is a fascinating verse to me because the chief priest, we just finished talking about this group of people, and the chief priest, the religious leaders, you know what they did? There was a mob of people there, a Jewish mob, we're going to call them mind-numb robots. There's a group of mind-numb robots and the religious leaders are speaking and talking and teaching and leading this group of, this mob. These folks are the folks who said, you know, it'll just be easier for me to follow than it is to stand up. This is this group of people who say, it'll just be easier for me to do nothing or to join the crowd than it will be to stand out and go against the grain. And so this group is led by the chief priests. Folks, I want you to know something. The religious leaders are giving account for the leadership that they exhibit. I read this pastor's scripture, and quite frankly as a pastor, as a preacher of the gospel, as a leader in this church, I tremble with the severity and the importance that I represent Jesus well, that I stand for what's right and for truth, whether it's popular, comfortable, But I stand for what's right, and stand for truth, and represent Christ well. The chief priests, what did they do? They moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. Listen to what the Bible says in verse number 12. And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the king of the Jews? So Pilate turns to the mob, and he says, What do you want me to do with this guy you call the king of the Jews? The Bible says, verse number 13, And they cried out again, Crucify Him. Verse 14, Pilate doubles down. Are you sure? He says in verse 14, Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify Him. Now I want you to just imagine for just a moment, I want you to look at Jesus. Jesus is standing before His accusers. There's a mob of people. Now this is Jerusalem. Jesus has done a lot of work among the Jews in Jerusalem. And Jesus stands before this mob of accusers. And how this mob can possibly have forgotten what Jesus has done for them is beyond my imagination. But it happens. In that mob of people were no doubt folks that Jesus had healed. There are no doubt folks who had seen Christ's great works among them, who had heard Christ's great teaching among them, who had seen the love of Jesus to the children among them. And yet, because everybody else was crying out, crucify Him, And because these religious leaders, these religious leaders that had denied the Bible, who denied the truth, who denied Christ, and were more interested in themselves, had said, let's crucify Him. That group of people, in the face of their Savior, cries out again and again and again and again, crucify Him. Give us Barabbas. Give us Barabbas. I'll just tell you, if you're here today and you're saved by the grace of God and you know it, and the Lord Jesus changed your life, and you've watched Jesus work in your family, and you've watched Jesus work in your church, and you've watched Jesus do a work in your life, and you know that God has made a difference in your life, yet the most popular thing to say at work is just to keep your mouth shut. degrading the Word, people are degrading the Savior, people are degrading the church, people are degrading what God's doing. And you know that Jesus made a difference in your life and Jesus made a difference in your home and Jesus made a difference in your world, but you just keep your mouth shut. You know what you choose? You choose Barabbas instead of Jesus. Or at your school, the most popular thing is to Be anti-Christ. And you know Jesus has changed your life, but when the crowd speaks, you either keep your mouth shut or crucify Him. If that's you, God is calling you and God is commissioning us and God is leading us to stand up, choose Jesus and not Barabbas. Choose Jesus and not the thief and the liar and the murderer. Choose Jesus and not Barabbas. What did the mob choose? The mob chose Barabbas. Number three, Pilate. Oh, Pilate. Pilate goes down in infamy as being the man who sent Jesus under his authority to the cross. Jesus was going to pay the price for our sins. But I don't believe Pilate necessarily had to be the person who was involved, but he was. I want you to see why Pilate chose Barabbas. Pilate chose Barabbas. The Bible says in verse 15, And so Pilate, willing to content the people released Barabbas under them. What was he willing to do? What was his desire? You can see in the whole discourse that Pilate just thinks, these silly religious leaders. By the way, how well did the scribes and the Pharisees represent the law of moses and the jewish by how well did they represent the jewish by to the world which was represented by roman pile how well they represent them themselves the world very poorly they so-called religious leaders must be in tune with god They didn't have enough character to do things right, and they go to the world, and they go to Rome, and they go to Pilate, and they say, Pilate, crucify this man. And Pilate says, you know, goodness, I know why he's here, because you guys are full of envy. It seems ridiculous in Rome, but I'll just tell you something. Our churches are full of cowards. They're afraid to stand up for truth and stand up for right. And there are people who profess and praise the name of Jesus, but they don't mind to lie if it's convenient. And there's people who stand up and praise the name of Jesus, but they don't mind to cheat if it's convenient. And there's people who proclaim the name of Jesus who are lazy and sorry and the worst employees on a job. I'll tell you something, they're doing a poor job of representing Jesus to this world. I don't want to be in the mob. I don't want to choose Barabbas. I want to choose Jesus. What did Pilate choose? Pilate chose Barabbas, too. Why? Pilate chose Barabbas because he just wanted to do what was easiest, what would content the people. He said, I just want to get this over with. I want to keep everybody quiet. The Bible says, so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them and delivered Jesus. when he had scourged him. What did Pilate deliver him to? A scourging. He was beaten beyond recognition and then to be crucified. What did Pilate choose? Barabbas. He chose Barabbas. Let me tell you something about Barabbas, folks. Here's what the Bible says in John chapter number 18. I'll read it to you. John chapter 18, verse number 40. The Bible says, now Barabbas was a robber. Barabbas was a robber. I think it's very perfect in God's Word that the Bible says that Barabbas was a robber. Let me tell you something about this whole scene that we need to take to heart. You know what choosing Barabbas did for those religious leaders? They chose Barabbas. Barabbas was a robber. By choosing Barabbas instead of Christ, That group of religious leaders were robbed of an opportunity to spend eternity in heaven, in the presence of God. They were robbed of the opportunity of the peace of God, the direction of God, the grace of God, the mercy of God. When you choose Barabbas, you choose a robber. Mob, what they miss out on is they cried, Unwilling to go against the grain, unwilling to stand up against the crowd, when they chose Barabbas and said, I'm just going to do everything like everybody else does, and I don't care what the Bible says, I don't care what the truth is, I don't care what Jesus has done in my family, I'm just going to do whatever I want to. What did they choose? They chose a robber. And that mob of people were robbed of the presence of God, the blessing of God, eternity with God. The grace of God, the strength of God, the glory of God, a relationship with Jesus Christ. Folks, because I want you to know something, when you choose Barabbas, you choose a robber. What did Pilate miss? Pilate missed out on the opportunity to stand up for the King of kings and Lord of lords. And when Pilate chose Barabbas, Pilate chose a robber. Here's where the rubber meets the road, people. in this life, in this year, in this day, if you choose anything other than Christ for your life, and a life that's led in submission to the King of kings and the Lord of lords, if you choose To lead against God's Word. To stand against God's Word. To stand against God's Son. Or if you choose to just go with the flow because it's easier. Or you choose to just do what's most convenient. Instead of live for Jesus, you've chosen Barabbas. And Barabbas is a robber. See, I don't want to waste the one life I have. And I am absolutely certain that to get the most out of the one life that God has given me, to get the most out of the rest of the one life that God has given me, the only sensible thing that I can do is devote my entire life to service to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm not calling, asking you to quit your job. I'm just telling you to go to your job and live for Jesus. I'm not asking you to leave your family and go to some foreign field. I'm just asking you to lead your family and live for Jesus. And give Him the first place in your life. Because to choose anything other than Jesus is to choose sin and inferior and something that will rob you of the blessings that God desires for your life. You know something I find ironic about the story with Barabbas and Jesus? The mob cried out, crucify him. The religious leaders said, we got him now. Pilate said, I don't want to fool with you people. Scourge him, crucify him. You know what I find ironic? On that day, Barabbas, a sinner, a wicked sinner, was let go so that Jesus, a righteous Savior, could die in His place. You know what Jesus did for me and you? The same thing. I am Barabbas. I deserve to die. I was guilty of murder. I was guilty. Yet Jesus, in love, allowed me to be set free. And Jesus took my place. And He paid my sins on the cross of Calvary. Because of that, as a child, I was able to ask Jesus to come into my heart and forgive my sins. And He paid my debt in full. And I know for sure that heaven is my home. And I cannot be robbed of what Jesus has done for me. What a wonderful Savior. I just wonder, I just wonder, in your daily life, are you choosing Barabbas or Jesus? Folks, I want you to know something. You could not choose anyone that loves you more or knows you better or has your greatest interest in mind than to choose Jesus because it was that same Jesus who humbled himself, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, that you and I might have everlasting life. Don't choose Barabbas. Barabbas is a robber. Choose Jesus. He's a Savior. What a king, what a glorious king we have in Jesus Christ. Let's pray.