Kings and Brambles Part 3: The Barabbas Choice

I'm just a sojourner and alien living in terra-firma passing through the sieve of this earth suit and I noticed that...

As humans, we make some perplexing choices.

Now at the feast he [Pontius Pilate] was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!” - Mark 15:6-13, New King James Version

This passage describes events prior to the death of Jesus Christ. In Zechariah 9:9, God promised that Israel's true king would come to save them, riding on a donkey. By the time of the prophecy, Israel had experienced brutal colonization and enslavement by the Egyptians (400 years, 1700-1300 BCE), the Assyrians (18 years, 740-722 BCE) and the Babylonians (48 years, 586-538 BCE). Jesus lived during a time when Rome had annexed the province of Judea and subjugated the nation of Israel (6 CE). Various uprisings led by the Zealots had taken place during Roman occupation with leaders claiming to be the "son of God" or "messiah" to rally followers. Barabbas was one such leader, but his insurrection against Rome failed, resulting in his conviction and arrest. Jesus was also seen as a contender for the title Messiah, especially after His miracles, teachings, and entry into Jerusalem on a donkey during Passover.

Jesus was not the king, Israel was expecting:

• Kings ride chargers, not donkeys.
• Kings are rich, not poor.
• Kings are heroic, not meek.

While not making direct comparisons to current American political figures, the decision to release Barabbas is instructive:

1) Misinformation

The people of Israel either forgot, did not know, or ignored their history. This allowed national leaders to use influencers to advocate for Barabbas' release. Jesus became the scapegoat to appease a politically powerful minority. The Barabbas choice was a rejection of truth and an embrace of a strongman who promised violent retribution against Rome. American politicians who would rather use the power of the presidency to prosecute fellow Americans will divert energy, time and resources from programs needed by the citizens in order to pursue personal vendettas.

2) Values and Beliefs

Leadership choices reflect national feelings about governance, justice, and societal priorities. Israel, under Roman oppression, wanted a leader to rally the people and change their fortunes at any cost. The Barabbas choice was a rejection of morality and an embrace of wanton violence. Christian Nationals and right wing think tanks in America are willing to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the moral failings of a leader as long as they are willing to use their power to advance agendas for their image of America.

3) Historical repetition

Israel had been captivated by strongman leadership before. Abimelech's campaign of crime, violence, and misinformation to ascend to power was detailed in my previous article, Kings and Brambles Part 2 - The Rains of Castamere. The Barabbas choice was a rejection of historical facts and an embrace of ignorance and polarization. Misinformation about the voting process in America has led many states to impose restrictions making it more difficult for citizens to have their voices heard. Alongside these actions are state sponsored campaigns to restrict access to books, and punish educators and librarians for teaching restricted knowledge.

SPOILER ALERT

The Zealots' violent rejection of Rome led to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

God had a much bigger picture in mind for the events that unfolded in the gospel account. Similarly, America should have a grand vision for leadership at all levels of government. The elite of all the political parties in the United States have placed, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," behind a veneer of platitudes, promises, and posturing to focus instead on building an infrastructure of repression. When we exercise the few voting rights we have left, we can build our more perfect union and impact the generations to come. The Barabbas choice is a profoundly prescient lesson that underscores the importance of truth, values, and accurate history in shaping our collective future.

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