Daily Devotional For Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Good day Southside! Our devotional for today comes from Matthew 27:11-18:
“Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ And Jesus said to him,’“It is as you say.’ (12) And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. (13) Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?’ (14) And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed. (15) Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. (16) At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. (17) So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’ (18) For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over” (NASB).
When Jesus comes before Pilate, Pilate’s questions are to discern if Jesus has broken Roman laws. Was Jesus intentionally trying to set Himself up as a king to lead a revolt or revolution against Rome and the Emperor. Jesus’ literal response to Pilate was, “These are your words, not Mine.” Yet, what Pilate did not realize was that just like the magi, he had acknowledged Jesus as the King. The Jewish leaders have planned this well. They know that Pilate will do nothing against Jesus as a false prophet. So, they alter their accusations against Jesus to Pilate in order to get Pilate to take this seriously.
Pilate is shocked that Jesus will not even defend Himself or address the charades against Him. This goes to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah (Isa. 42:1-4) found in Matthew 12:17-21. Pilate is no dummy. He realized the envy and jealousy that is the real reason behind the religious leaders' hatred of Jesus. So, Pilate chooses a plan which in his mind will free Jesus – a Roman custom performed during Passover. That custom was the freeing a Jewish criminal rather than executing them by crucifixion. So, Pilate presents to them Barabbas or Jesus, which backfired on Pilate, as we read later on this passage.
Barabbas comes from two Hebrew words: “Bar,” which means “son of” and “abbas,” which means father. Barabbas means “son of the father.” Barabbas was more of a descriptive title than a name just like Christ was and is. Other historical documents from that time state that Barabbas’ first name is Jesus. If this is true, then Pilate presented to the people a choice: Jesus Barabbas or Jesus Christ. Jesus was a very common name for a Jewish boy. Jesus is the Greek for the Aramaic, Yeshua, which comes from the Hebrew Joshua. Joshua means “God is our salvation, deliverer.”
Jesus was often given as a name for a son in hopes that son would be the Messiah or deliverer one day. We know that in the first century, the most respected rabbis were called “Father.” So, it is possible that Barabbas was the son of a very respected and well known rabbi. Based on the description of Barabbas’ crime as a “notorious criminal,” it seems that Barabbas may have been a Zealot – a member of a Jewish group that killed and assassinated anyone Roman or anyone employed by Rome. Since Barabbas was in prison, it seems he was scheduled to be executed. It is possible that along with the two other thieves crucified with Jesus, Barabbas was to be crucified with them. So, Pilate presented both: Jesus Barabbas, a man who has tried to deliver you from Roman occupation or Jesus Christ, a man who wants to deliver you spiritually. Who would you choose? If during the American Revolution the British had the same custom, and you were living then, who would you choose: Patrick Henry or Benedict Arnold?
Reflection Assignment: Today and every day, every one of us has a choice to make – Christ or culture; Faith or feelings; Peer Pressure or the Spirit’s presence; self or the Savior; money or our Master; self-centeredness or Christ-centeredness; making disciples for heaven or making disciples for hell; praying to our Father or preying on others; choosing life or choosing death; giving grace or gossiping; the narrow road or the broad road. Character is not seen just in our words; but in our actions. When faced each day with a choice, do your choices reflect Christ, His mission and His will for your life?
Scripture To Meditate On: Joshua 24:15, “Joshua said to the people, ‘if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord’” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I commit to choosing You and only You. When I am vulnerable to choose anything but You, convict me so I choose You. I want my character to reflect Your character in all my spiritual choices. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly