Meaning of John 18:39

This verse, spoken by Pontius Pilate to the Jewish crowd, highlights a significant Roman custom of releasing a prisoner during the Passover festival. Pilate, likely seeking to appease the populace and avoid further conflict, offers them a choice between two men slated for execution: Jesus, whom he sarcastically identifies as "the king of the Jews," and another prisoner, Barabbas. The core of this statement lies in Pilate's cynical manipulation of a religious tradition, presenting a stark choice between a man accused of sedition and a revolutionary, thereby forcing the crowd to implicitly endorse or reject Jesus' claims and Pilate's judgment.

Context and Background

The scene unfolds during Jesus' trial before Pilate in Jerusalem, shortly before the Passover feast. The Jewish leaders, having already condemned Jesus, brought him to the Roman governor, the ultimate authority capable of issuing a death sentence. The Passover was a pivotal Jewish festival commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. A tradition, possibly of Roman origin or adopted by Romans to foster goodwill, involved the governor releasing a condemned prisoner to the people as a gesture of clemency during this important time. Pilate, a pragmatic Roman administrator, was attempting to navigate the volatile political and religious sentiments of the Jewish population.

Key Themes and Messages

• The Nature of Kingship: Pilate's sarcastic appellation, "the king of the Jews," underscores the ironic contrast between Jesus' spiritual kingship and the political expectations of the crowd. Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, yet he is presented as a candidate for release alongside a presumably more conventional, rebellious figure.
• Choice and Rejection: The verse presents a profound choice, not just for the crowd but for humanity. It forces a decision between two paths: one leading to liberation through divine grace (represented by Jesus) and the other to continued bondage (represented by Barabbas, a symbol of earthly rebellion).
• Political and Religious Compromise: Pilate's action is a clear example of political expediency and a reluctance to engage with the true nature of Jesus' identity. He offers a superficial choice, attempting to wash his hands of the matter by deferring to the will of the people.
• Irony and Foreshadowing: The choice between Jesus and Barabbas is deeply ironic. The crowd, seeking liberation during Passover, ironically chooses the rebel Barabbas over Jesus, the true liberator, thereby sealing Jesus' fate and setting the stage for a different kind of liberation – spiritual redemption.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This passage serves as a powerful illustration of humanity's persistent tendency to choose the familiar, the earthly, and the conventionally appealing over the divine and the spiritually transformative. We are often presented with choices, consciously or unconsciously, between following Christ's path of self-denial and sacrifice, and the path of worldly desires and immediate gratification. The spiritual significance lies in recognizing that true freedom is not political or material but spiritual, found in accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, who offers liberation from sin and eternal death. The application encourages introspection on our own choices: whom do we truly serve? What do we prioritize? Are we choosing the "Barabbas" of our own worldly desires over the "Jesus" of divine truth and salvation?

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This event is a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative, directly preceding Jesus' crucifixion. It fulfills Old Testament prophecies concerning the suffering servant and the rejection of the Messiah. The choice between Jesus and Barabbas is a microcosm of the larger biblical theme of humanity's fallen nature and its consistent rebellion against God's will. The Passover itself, which this custom is tied to, foreshadows Jesus' sacrifice as the ultimate Passover lamb, whose blood liberates believers from spiritual bondage.

Analogies

Imagine a town facing a devastating plague. The authorities offer a choice: a seemingly miraculous cure that requires sacrifice and a complete change of lifestyle, or a temporary relief from symptoms that allows people to continue their unhealthy habits, but ultimately leads to a slower, more certain demise. The crowd's choice of Barabbas is akin to choosing the temporary relief, rejecting the more difficult but ultimately life-saving cure. Another analogy is being offered a choice between a lifetime of genuine, fulfilling work with challenges and growth, or a life of superficial entertainment and ease, leading to eventual emptiness.

Relation to Other Verses

• John 1:11: "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." This verse directly echoes the rejection Jesus faced from his own people in this passage.
• Matthew 27:20-23: This parallel account in Matthew provides further detail on the crowd's clamor for Barabbas' release and their demand for Jesus' crucifixion.
• Isaiah 53:3: "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we took no account of him." This prophecy finds its stark fulfillment in the crowd's decision.
• Romans 8:32: "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" This verse highlights the immense sacrifice Jesus willingly made, a stark contrast to the crowd's rejection.