Son of the Father

Matthew 27:20-22, 26
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said,"Barabbas!"
22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"…
26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

Barabbas was a rebel, murderer and robber. But he was set free instead of Jesus.

Barabbas is actually a picture of the sinner. Without Christ, we were all once, a Barabbas. We were all rebels, murderers and robbers, if not outwardly, then inwardly. But Christ took our place at the cross, so that we could be set free.

I believe that Barabbas became a believer after he was set free. When he saw Jesus standing there, he must have thought, "This is a holy Man. He is innocent and I am guilty. Yet, because of Him, I am being set free. There is something about this Man. I must know who He is."

Why do I believe that Barabbas became a believer?

Because of his name. Barabbas means "son of (bar) father (abba)". Obviously, his parents did not bother to give him a proper name as every man is a son of his father!

But I believe that in his case, because Jesus took his place, he became a son of not just any earthly father, but our heavenly Abba Father!

John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.