It is Barabbas

4/18/2022

Mark 15:15 "So Pilot, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified,"

My family watched the 1961 movie Barabbas, starring Anthony Quinn as the title character. This is a fictional story about the criminal that was set free instead of Jesus, based on a book of the same name by Par Lagerkvist. We began watching out of curiosity, and we were shocked by the strength of its message.

It is a "what if this happened?" kind of story, one that is both powerful and very atmospheric. In the story, Jesus, who Barabbas sees when He is sentenced and crucified, never truly leaves him throughout a long and very difficult journey. At one point, Barabbas exclaims he cannot be killed, but this was more of a curse than a blessing. He believes it is because he was set free while innocent Jesus was sentenced to death. He feels it is a curse, but has a believer tell him it is God's will. He actually asks different versions of, "Why did He die instead of me?" throughout what winds up being a very long life.

In the end, as he is imprisoned with a group of Christians after the burning of Rome, he meets Peter among them. This is where the most profound truths are spoken. Peter tells him that he had been wrestling with faith in Christ all throughout his life, but that Jesus was with him all the while. Peter states that, "In His eyes, every man is the entire world, and He loves each man like no other." Then he offers, "The kingdom is within us, there is nothing more to fear." Such amazing truth! 

There are many scenes throughout the film where Barabbas comes out of the darkness and into the light. He is imprisoned and released literally each time, but it is more reflective of the spiritual prison he remains in while he fights the call of Jesus on his life. The ending scene is just an amazing juxtaposition, as Barabbas gives his spirit over to Jesus. Even at the finale, he speaks of darkness as he enters the heavenly light. 

If you have not yet seen this movie, I would highly recommend it for its thoughtfulness and truth, for Barabbas is all of us. "Why did He die instead of me?"