URC Daily Devotion 30 March 2026 | St. Andrew's United Reformed Church

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30 March 2026
Monday in Holy Week

St Matthew 27: 15-23
Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.’ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’ Pilate said to them, ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ All of them said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ Then he asked, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’

Reflection
Barabbas is named in every one of the four gospels. Matthew (27:16) tells us only that Barabbas was a well-known prisoner. Mark (15:7) says he was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising whilst Luke (23:19) indicates that he took part in the uprising and had committed murder. Clearly Barabbas is a notorious and violent man but the Jewish people and their leaders may have viewed him more as a thug rather than as an heroic freedom fighter.

After questioning Jesus, Pilate is clear that He has done no wrong and starts looking for a way to release Him. He proposes to use Rome’s annual act of grace at the Jewish Passover which allows the release of a condemned prisoner, and he offers the crowd a choice – to release Jesus “who is called the Messiah” or let the thug Barabbas go free. Surprisingly, encouraged by the religious leaders, the people choose Barabbas.

And so an innocent man is crucified, and a guilty man goes free. It’s a shocking outcome. At first sight, there does not appear to be much that is “good” about the events we associate with Good Friday. The guilty go free! But actually, that really is the point. Each one of us stands guilty before God: for the things we have done or said which we ought not to have, and for the things we did not say or do but ought to have. Jesus laid down his own life so that the guilty – you and me – could go free.

Prayer
What kind of love is this that gave itself for me?
I am the guilty one yet I go free…

What kind of man is this who died in agony?
He who had done no wrong was crucified for me…

No eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard,
nor has the heart of man conceived what kind of love is this.

Today’s writer

Dr John Wilcox, locally accredited lay preacher, worshipping at Christchurch, Lanark.

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.