The Face Of Fortune, Barabbas.

Hey everyone and welcome to Refinery Life Church.

“Beneath the Cross of Jesus” is the theme for this series that consists of eight biographical sermons about the people who were there when Jesus was dying on the cross.

Today’s message is titled The Face Of Fortune, Barabbas.

Pilate presented Barabbas to the crowd as an alternative, seeking to escape his responsibility the ordeal.

His training in Roman justice made it difficult for him to condemn an innocent man.

Pilate’s offer takes on special significance if both of these men had the same name.

Many scholars believe that the full name of Barabbas was Jesus Barabbus.

There is some written evidence to support this.

And if this was the case, the crowd had to choose between Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Barabbas.

The face of Barabbas is truly the face of good fortune.

Never has a better thing happened to a man on the day of his expected crucifixion.

Jesus of Nazareth probably died on the cross that had been prepared for Jesus Barabbas.

When the Sabbath came, Jesus was lying in a tomb and Barabbas was sleeping in his own bed.

This graphically sets forth the central truth of the gospel, “Christ died for us.”

Until next time

Stay in the Blessings