NOTES for Luk 23:1-25

In his account of the Passion, Luke mentions not only Pilate but also King Herod, to show that Jesus is innocent not only in the eyes of the pagan governor but also in those of the Jewish authorities. The rulers do not believe Jesus and mock him, yet they agree in testifying to his innocence. Barabbas is mentioned for the same purpose: a robber and murderer is set free, while the Righteous One is condemned to death. Every conception of justice, Jewish and pagan alike, is trampled underfoot here. But the Evangelist also wants to show us that this human injustice turns into another injustice: the injustice of God's love. For there is another side to Jesus' unjust condemnation: a robber escapes a just punishment and gains life, freedom and the possibility of salvation. It is no accident that Christians of the early centuries saw in the Gospel's Barabbas an image of all humanity—his byname simply means ‘son of the father.’ And self-sacrifice in another's place becomes the greatest act of courage and devotion; remember: ‘There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends’ (John 15:13). Many martyrs died in this way, for example Mother Maria Skobtsova and Father Maximilian Kolbe. The Gospel account of Jesus' death reveals with renewed force the fulfilment of his commandment of love.