A Word for the Rejected

“But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus.”–Matthew 27:20

As I was reading the account of Christ’s passion this morning, I was burdened by this phrase.  What a contrast in persons! Barabbas had stolen from their tables, he was a thief.  Jesus had fed them with bread and fish, he was a giver.  Barabbas had mutilated.  Jesus had healed.  Barabbas had murdered.  Jesus had raised the dead.  Barabbas loved his own flesh and hated others.  Jesus had hated his own flesh and loved others.  Yet they spared Barabbas and destroyed Jesus.  We cannot miss the importance of this verse in all of the passion account.  This is the crux of the Gospel.  To doom oneself to hell, we must reject Jesus and embrace sin (Barabbas), but to have eternal life, we must reject sin and embrace Jesus.

What would drive the people to such a ridiculous choice?  Two verses prior gives the answer clearly.  “For envy they had delivered him.”   Jesus was a lot of things, but he was not what the people wanted him to be.  They wanted a political savior, a social hero.  They wanted a miraculous king.  They wanted a submissive puppet.  They did not want a bleeding sacrifice.

Fellow-Christians, Paul says that we can be partaker of his sufferings.  A part of those sufferings are rejection because of envy.  Some will reject you simply because you are not what they think you should be.  Some will reject you because they seek Barabbas but destroy Jesus.  Notice also, that it is the multitudes persuaded by the elders.  People are fickle. They will follow that which is most popular.  The elders knew that and knew that if the multitude was not behind them, they would get no where with their diabolical scheme.  So they bent the will of the multitude to destroy Jesus.

Burdened saint, don’t be discouraged if the “multitudes” are against you.  They were against Jesus Christ.  In a few short days, multitudes in Jerusalem would realize what had been done and 8000+ would repent and believe on the Lord Jesus.  The rejection of Christ by the multitude takes place only weeks before the greatest advance of the church in all of New Testament history.

Forward, Saints! press on!  In due season you will reap if you faint not!