Sitting in a jail cell, legal proceedings going on above him, Barabbas strained to hear any word of his fate. Difficult since the stone walls blocked individual voices—only the shouts of the crowd reached his ears.

Arrested for insurrection, Barabbas knew his crimes called for death. He held little hope, but still his head jerked up when he heard the crowd roar, Barabbas! His insides collapsed when next he heard, Crucify him! A pause, then louder, Crucify him!

Barabbas saw his life ending on a bloody cross.

Led from his cell, Barabbas steeled himself against a rush of anger. But emerging into the crowded square, no one even looked his way. The mob aimed its fury at a man he didn’t recognize.

The crowd hungered for the death of a different insurrectionist, one in the process of overturning the powers of sin and darkness. As Pilate handed Jesus over to the executioners, he released Barabbas, who stood blinking with dumb luck.

Who was the first person Jesus died for?

Barabbas.

What happened next for Barabbas? No one knows. Some say he followed the crowds to Golgotha and watched the crucifixion. I imagine he got out of town before Pilate realized his mistake and arrested him again. Either way, Barabbas disappeared from history.

The first person Jesus died for, the first man whose death penalty Jesus took upon himself, walked away without a word of thanks.

I want a better ending to the story. I want to discover that Barabbas changed his life, followed Jesus, and later became the bishop of Africa or something. But no. This story helps me realize that Jesus died with no expectations, his death places no hold on anyone.

We all choose and despite the Lord’s goodness, some like Barabbas choose to look and walk away.

Matthew 27 in week thirty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Portrait of Barabbas by James Tissot (1836–1902)