Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Audio: iTunes | Spotify

They all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

᛭ INI ᛭

What’s in a name? Everything or nothing at all. Name recognition can be good a thing. It can be a bad thing. There is such a thing as bad press. You can be famous or perhaps infamous! Deeds get tied to a name, and there they stick. Who’s called Adolf these days? Or Judas? Who’d like the last name Boothe or Oswald or Dahmer or Epstein?

(3. What’s with Barabbas’ name?)

So it was for Barabbas. “He is first, by translation of his name,” (Heb 7) “son of the father.” But what sort of son of what sort of father? “By their fruits you will know them.” (Mt 7) He is “son of disobedience,” (Eph 2) following the steps of his father, the devil. (Jn 8) For Barabbas was, of course, “a notorious prisoner.” (Mt 27) Why notorious? John tells us a robber, but he was, as we would call him, a career criminal. Barabbas was “chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.” (Mt 15) His Roman rap sheet ignored for Christ’s sake, but sins of such a faithless son of Abraham still stand before God’s throne. For “the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Mt 16)

(2. What’s with your name?)

What about you? What’s tied to your name? And not the curated, polished mask we all put on for others. What do your parents know? Your kids know? Let’s ask your former coworkers, your past friends, those who aren’t in your life anymore because, well, you know… And it’s not just them. You’re notorious in their life. What charges stand against you there? What would be the placard above your head? Besides all that the LORD God knows everything about you, even the stuff you’ve thankfully forgotten! But others may not. You can’t fool God with a a show. For “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Heb 4)

(1. What’s with Christ’s name?)

What about Christ <span style=”text-decoration: overline; font-family: Times New Roman;”>ΙΗϹ</span> our Lord? Well, Pilate asked the Jews, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” (Mt 27) And when they were asked “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews,” they answered, “No! Crucify Him, and give us Barabbas instead!” So it was Pilate handed Him over to be crucified and released Barabbas.

Christ was, at the last, condemned for the truth! “Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed,” Caiaphas asked. “I AM,” Christ replied. (Mk 14) Christ the eternal Bar-Abba! Convicted also with the truth! “<span style=”text-decoration: overline; font-family: Times New Roman;”>ΙΗϹ</span> OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.” And yet, “the deepest stroke that pierced Him was the stroke that justice gave.” (LSB 451) Not the insults, not the name, but your bad name, your sins—all His! Christ has the greatest name above all names, not only because He “is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” (Rom 9) But because of what He has done for you and for all:

Christ “being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of <span style=”text-decoration: overline; font-family: Times New Roman;”>ΙΗϹ</span> every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2)

“There is salvation in none other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4) For now He has forgiven you all your trespasses, and He nailed to the cross all God’s righteous requirements, and all the labels that go with failing at the requirements. Not only is there salvation in His name, but He promises you a new name. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” (Rev 2)

You’ll be given a name without any baggage attached to it, because Christ’s name is yours. You were baptized into His name. His name is written across your forehead—His, His Father’s, and the Holy Spirit’s. In Holy Baptism you were given a new name, and now you are no longer a son of disobedience, no longer kin with Barabbas, of the household of Satan. You are new and better Barabbas—a better and true Son of the Almighty God and Father of our great God and Savior <span style=”text-decoration: overline; font-family: Times New Roman;”>ΙΗϹ</span> Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, to be preached at the proper time, even now to you. For “you are all sons of God through faith in <span style=”text-decoration: overline; font-family: Times New Roman;”>ΙΗϹ</span> Christ. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise,” (Gal 3) and an “heirs of everlasting life.” (Tit 3)

(Conclusion.)

What’s in a name? Everything or nothing at all. Who’s called Adolf these days? Or Judas? Who’d like the last name Boothe or Oswald or Dahmer or Epstein? Who’d like your name? Good thing you don’t have to worry about that, do you? You really don’t. For <span style=”text-decoration: overline; font-family: Times New Roman;”>ΙΗϹ</span> OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS has spoken about your name today. He said, “It is finished.” All paid for, taken care of! And if that weren’t enough. He’s given you the name above all names—His own name! <span style=”text-decoration: overline; font-family: Times New Roman;”>ΙΗϹ</span> Christ, the eternal Son of the Father, has made you an everlasting son of His Father—His Father’s yours!—in and through Holy Baptism. You’ve also “received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Rom 8)

᛭ INI ᛭