Let's take our Bibles and turn
with me to the book of John chapter 18. John 18. John 18. I'd like to look at
verses 39 and 40. But you have a custom that I
should release unto you one at the Passover. Will you therefore
that I release unto you the King of the Jews?' Then cried they
all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was
a robber. The precious Lord Jesus Christ
had said before Pilate in verse 37, to this end was I born. And for this cause came I into
the world that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone
that is of the truth heareth my voice." The Lord Jesus Christ declared
to Pilate and all those standing there, this is the reason that
I came. To this end was I born." He's
declaring that he was made flesh. This is the reason that I came
into this world, that I should bear witness unto The truth. The truth concerning God Almighty. Now, man is going to make up
a god, a little g-god. That's what he's going to do. He said, I came to bear witness
unto the truth of the eternal God. God Almighty. who is sovereign in creation,
all things made by Him. Without Him was not anything
made that was made. This is God. Man, this world
didn't evolve out of stuff. God made it. Adam looked just like we look.
He was a man. God Almighty is sovereign in
mercy. That's what He told Moses, I
will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. He said, I came into
this world to bear witness to the truth of the justice of God. Man, again, by nature, Man doesn't
believe that God is just. If men truly believe that God
is just and He's going to deal with sin, you couldn't put the
people, if everybody believed that, you couldn't put them in
here. They'd have to find us another building because they
ain't going to be in here. But I'm going to tell you, this is
the reason why this place is not overflowing. People don't
believe God's just. That rich man that we talked
about lifted up his eyes out of hell last week? Do you believe
that he believed that God was just before he died? He believes
it now. You know, I'm going to tell you
something, buddy. Everybody in hell believes the gospel now.
Everybody believes that God is sovereign. All of them believe
that. There's no unbelievers, buddy. No mercy. Oh, but they
believe it. They believe it. came to bear witness of the truth
of the unchangingness of God. God doesn't change. I've heard
this statement. I've made this statement. I heard
Brother Henry make this statement. He said, men say that prayer
changes things. He said, prayer doesn't change
things. The God to whom we pray is the one that moves and orders,
directs. Prayer doesn't change. God changes. For this cause, he said, came
I into the world to bear witness to the truth of who God is, who man is. Now, he said that
man is spiritually impotent. John 15, 5. He that abideth in
me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without
me ye can do nothing." Do nothing. Can you believe? You can do nothing. Without him, man is spiritually
impotent. He came into this world that
he should bear witness to the truth concerning Himself. Now, I know what man says, naturally
speaking, about the Lord Jesus Christ. That He came into this
world to make salvation possible. The Lord didn't say that. He
said, I came into this world to finish the work. And He did finish the work. He
established righteousness and imputes righteousness to every
one of His people. He that believeth, God has charged
them with righteousness concerning Himself. Everybody
is saying that the Lord Jesus Christ died for everybody. The
Lord didn't say that. He said, I lay down my life for
the sheep. He's praying for everybody. The Lord didn't say that. He
said, I pray not for the world. Pray for those that you've given
me out of the world. That's who He's praying for. Well, what
about all these other people that are saying? They're not
telling you the truth. Bottom line. He came to bear
witness to the truth. He said, He has given me power
over all flesh that I should give eternal life to as many
as the Father has given me. He said in John 6, 37, All that
the Father giveth me shall come to me. Him that cometh to me
I will in no wise cast out. That is the truth. That's the
truth. He said, I came into this world,
I was born to bear witness to the truth. Well, back in John
18.37 there for a second, he says, To this end I was born,
and in thee said every one that is of the truth, Heareth my voice. How do you know who the sheep
are? Well, until the Lord calls them
out of darkness, you don't know. But I can tell you this, when
God calls them out of darkness, here's how you know them. They
believe God. They believe God. There's the difference in believing
God and believing in God. I said before, devils believe
that there is a God. They believe that there is a
Lord Jesus Christ. But to believe God, to believe
Him, that He is the Sovereign of this universe, that He is
the Sovereign in electing grace that Christ particularly redeemed
a people, and that the Spirit of God effectually shall call
them out of darkness. God's people believe that. They
believe that salvation is of the Lord. Everyone that is of
the truth hears me. Then Pilate said in verse 39,
what is truth? Just frustrated. There is a double-minded
man speaking. One way or the other. The Lord said in Matthew 12,
30, He that is not with me is against me. He that gathereth
not with me scattereth abroad. And Pilate exhibited that. Oh,
what is truth? You say this, they say this,
whatever. And verse 39 and 40, I want us to look at something
that was amazingly wonderful to me in a question. that Pilate asked these Jews
and their answer. Verse 39, he told them in verse
38, he said, I don't find any fault in him at all, but ye have
a custom that I should release unto you one at the Passover. Will ye therefore that I release
unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying,
Not this man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber. Their hatred and enmity against
the Lord Jesus Christ was very obvious. But listen to the question
of Pilate. You have a custom that I shall
release unto you one at the Passover. Now, the Passover is getting
ready to be observed here I think the next day. Here was the question. That Passover being a picture
set forth starting in Egypt, When the Lord told the people,
He said, I want you to take a lamb, kill it, take the blood, put
it on the door, get inside the house. When I pass through, I'll
pass over you. When I see the blood, I'll pass
over. Christ is the Passover. He is our Passover. The Passover is not an event.
to a believer, the Passover is a person. We don't observe that
tradition that the Jews still to this day observe. Christ is
our Passover. And the Lord moved upon this
man to ask this question. Now you think about this. All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God. It's profitable for instruction
in righteousness, for reproof, rebuke. The Spirit of God caused
Pilate to ask that question. Whom would ye that I should release
unto you? The King of the Jews? They said
no. But listen to this. Psalm 76
10 says, Surely the wrath of man is going to praise thee. The remainder of wrath shalt
thou restrain. In their hatred of the Lord Jesus
Christ, we absolutely see the natural man and his hatred toward
the Lord Jesus Christ. But, in that question and in
their answer, we see the glorious gospel of the redemption of God's
people. Now let me just tell you what's
going on here. Here's the Lord Jesus Christ,
the one that had just told The people, Pilate and those Jews
standing there, for this reason I came into this world that I
should bear witness unto the truth. This is the reason that
I'm here. This is the reason that I was
born. That I should bear witness to the truth. And everyone that
is of the truth, he said, here's my voice. About that time, just
a moment or two after Pilate throws up his hands, what's truth?
I don't find any fault in it. What do you guys want me to do?
That's what he asked them. It's the Passover, you've got
a custom. Okay, the Passover. Here is the
Passover lamb. Here's the lamb himself, slain
in the will and mind and purpose of Almighty God from before the
foundation of the world. Here's the lamb. And Pilate asked
those Jews, what do you want? What do you want? You want me
to release under you the king of the Jews?" And they said,
no, no, no, no, no, no. The one we want released is Barabbas. Barabbas was a robber. Now let
me tell you first of all who Barabbas is in this glorious
picture type of the redemption of God's sheep. Let me tell you
who he is. He's a robber. He's a robber. One of the other
accounts says he was a murderer. That's what Luke 23, 19. He was a murderer. Cast into
prison. Do you know what the name Barabbas
means? Son. Bar. Remember, you know,
Simon, Bar, Jonah. Simon, son, Bar. It means son. You know what Abba means? Father. They cried, Father. Barabbas means son of the Father. Here is this man, Barabbas. He's a murderer. He's a robber. You know who he's a picture of?
God's elect. All men, all men are robbers
and murderers by nature. I know that. But I'm going to
tell you something. Found within the mass of humanity,
God had a people. Born just like everybody else.
And this Barabbas right here, he's in prison, so are we. Bound
in trespasses and sins. Murderers. Haters of God. Haters. Despisers of God's grace. Despisers of His mercy. Will
not have this man to rule over me. And here's Barabbas. And Pilate asked him, Who do
you want to go free? The innocent Savior of sinners? Or this true criminal? Now here's
the just one as the true substitute for his people. The just who
must die. He must die for the unjust. Without him dying, We absolutely
have no hope. If He goes free, Barabbas is
still in prison. One of them is going to be released.
One of them is going to die. Who will ye that I release unto
you? The King of the Jews? Now with
that thought in mind and knowing that the counsel of the Lord
is going to stand, I want you to just consider with me. what
really went on right here. Now, let me ask you this. Were the Jews doing what they
wanted to do? They certainly were. They were
doing exactly what they wanted to do. They hated Him. They despised the Lord Jesus
Christ and they wanted Him crucified. They meant it for evil. But let me ask you this, were
they not accomplishing the perfect will of God? They were doing just exactly... Look at Acts 2.23, you've read
that. with me, but it's a beautiful
picture, truth concerning Acts 2.23. Starting in verse 2.22,
you men of Israel, Acts 2.22, you men of Israel, hear these
words, Jesus of Nazareth, the man approved of God among you
by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst
of you as ye yourselves also know. being delivered by the
determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by
wicked hands have crucified and slain." Let me ask you, when these Jews
wanted Him crucified, were they not doing exactly what they wanted
to do and exactly what God Almighty had eternally determined that
they were going to do. Look at John 11. Were they actually
mouthing the very words of God's will? Look at John 11, 47. John
11, 47. Then gathered the chief priests
and the Pharisees of counsel and said, What do we? For this
man doth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all
men will believe on him. And the Romans shall come and
take away both our place, our nation, and one of them named
Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them,
You know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient
for us that one man should die for the people and that the whole
nation perish not. What are you thinking? He was
speaking absolutely the truth of God's grace. It's expedient
that one man should die for the people, that the whole nation
perish not. Look at verse 51. This spake
he not of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied
that Jesus should die for that nation. Let me ask you this. Was he saying exactly what he
wanted to say? Yeah. He was saying, let's let
Him die and the Romans will leave us alone. Our oppressors, you
know, will not bother us. He was saying exactly what He
wanted under the inspiration of God's Spirit. Moving Him to
say, back in John 18, Who will ye therefore that I release unto
you? The King of the Jews? They all cried, not this man,
Barabbas. Let me ask you this. Let's just
bypass. Here's the Lord of glory. He
came into this world to seek and to save that which was lost,
His people. Call His name Jesus. He's going
to save His people. from their sins. Is that not
what Scripture says? Let me ask you, again, moving past them,
here is the beloved Son, the One in whom the Father is well
pleased, with respect and honor and glory and praise unto the
Father, My question would be unto the Father. Father, what
is your will? What is your will? That Christ,
the King of the Jews, go free? Or Barabbas? A fit picture of your people.
Lord, what is your will? 2 Corinthians 5.21 declares the
Father's will. He hath made Him to be sin for
us who knew no sin. That we might be made the righteousness
of God in Him. What's the Father's will? That
Christ go free? Or His people? The Father made
Him to be sin. asking this question and laying
it at the feet of the blessed Son Himself. Lord, what is your
will? He said in John 4.34, He said,
My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish
His work. That's my will. The blessed Holy Spirit Concerning
that question, 1 John 5.8 says, For there are three that bear
witness in the earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood,
and these three agree in one. According to that everlasting
covenant of grace, the Lord Jesus Christ would be rejected of men
and forsaken of God. and would tread the winepress
of God's justice and judgment on the behalf of His people.
Here is the Lord Jesus Christ laying down His life for His
church, for His bride, for His people, that they eternally not
be forsaken. He must be. This is according
to God's everlasting covenant of grace. What is the Father's
will? What is the Son's will? What
is the Holy Spirit's will? Ye have a custom that I should
release unto you one at the Passover. Will ye therefore that I release
unto you the King of the Jews? And they said, Not this man.
Don't release him. He said, I lay down my life for
the sheep. But in closing, I thought these
words, knowing what I know, what if that question was laid
at my feet? I know who He is. I know who He is. He's the holy,
harmless, Lamb of God, deserving of nothing but honor and glory
and praise. And here I am, a Barabbas, a
robber, a murderer, a thief, a liar, one that by nature hates God. What will ye that I do? Release the king of the Jews? Let him pay the penalty? Let
him suffer the judgment of God? And I'm going to tell you, here's
my answer. Lord, I am not deserving of your
mercy. You're the Holy One of Heaven,
glorious in all things. And if you go free, I'm going to perish. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve
it. I know that you're just God,
and I know you're a Savior. But for your namesake, according
to your everlasting covenant of grace, you who have everlastingly
taken up my cause, I who do not deserve your mercy, cleanse me
from all my sin in your precious blood, and give me the grace
to go through eternity praising you and honoring you for your
namesake. Lord, if thou shouldest mark
iniquity, who could stand? Amen.