Remember the Native American story; the one where the grandfather is explaining to his grandson that every person has two wolves inside of them – an evil wolf and a good wolf? Okay, so picture these two wolves. One is snarling and all full of evil intent, longing to bite and rip apart. The other is growling at injustice and hatred and standing guard over the weak and hurting. In the parable, the grandson asked, “How can we make sure that the good wolf wins?” The grandfather responds with, “It is all about which one is fed.” But there is a reality here. Some purposefully feed the evil wolf. There are a lot of reasons why. They may have been beat up by life and/or the people that should have protected them. They may have developed a taste for blood. They may have been trained to feed evil. Whatever the reason, they feed the evil wolf and do their level best to obliterate the good wolf. And this can happen on a bigger stage.
I believe that Luke 23:18-25 really happened, but I also believe that it stands as a metaphor for a deeper reality. In order to grasp this deeper reality, it is important to see the irony that almost literally leaps out of the story. Pilate, who was known to be ruthless, so ruthless in fact that he was deposed by Rome, is working hard to set Jesus, the king of the Jews, free. In the previous section he had told the gathered together people that he intended to discipline Jesus and release him. But they, the chief priests and the rulers and the people, shout out as one, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas!” Since verse 17 was most likely a later addition to Luke’s gospel, Luke tells the story without explaining the whole letting one prisoner go during Passover thing. Maybe he didn’t feel as if it needed explaining. Maybe Theophilus and the other readers were well aware. Interestingly, the name Barabbas means Son of Abba (father). This is a rare, but attested name. Anyway, this Barabbas was in prison because of a riot that broke out in the city and for murder. Well, that’s ironic. They brought Jesus to Pilate implying a charge of insurrection and the person who was a known insurrectionist and murderer they want set free.
But Pilate, the Roman official, wanted to set Jesus free. But the crowd kept shouting out “Crucify Him!” They not only want Jesus dead, they want him humiliated on a cross. Some will find it difficult to believe that the people who had been supporters of Jesus, could come to this in such a short amount of time. But we have witnessed this happen haven’t we. Jesus did not fight his arrest. He never even attempted to gather soldiers around him. Their expectations of the Messiah had been disappointed again. It was easy for the rulers to turn that disappointment into rage and hatred. Throw in the mix the whole crowd mentality thing, and it is not only possible, it is likely. And Pilate asked this crowd of people who may be on the verge of becoming a mob, “what evil has he done?” Pilate could find no reason to execute Jesus. Their accusations are weak and obvious. Pilate offers again to discipline Jesus and set him free.
But they were, with intense voices, pressing against Pilate. The word is used in Acts 27:20 to describe the pounding of a storm. They wanted him crucified. They wanted Jesus to die the most shameful and horrible death allowed. Their shouting began to wear Pilate down; to gain strength over him. Luke doesn’t tell us about the veiled threat to accuse Pilate of not being a friend of Caesar. The important thing is to see their voices pounding against Pilate’s reserve and eventually breaking him down. He decided to give in to their demands. He released Barabbas and delivered Jesus up to their will; their purpose; their desire. The word release – set free – runs through these verses. The Jews want Barabbas set free (v. 18). Pilate wants to set Jesus free (v. 20). Pilate offers to discipline and set Jesus free (v. 22). Pilate set Barabbas free (v. 25). Barabbas is a known evil wolf. Jesus is a good wolf. Ironically, the people who had grown up longing for the Messiah – the ultimate good wolf – to come are the very ones who clamor to crucify him and at the same time they demand that the evil wolf be set free. Ah, metaphor.
This is more than the story of two men. This is the story of a crowd fighting to crucify the good man (or wolf if you rather). This is the story of a crowd who had purposefully fought to release the evil man (or wolf if you rather). In each of us, there is a battle raging. Release the good and crucify the evil. Don’t reverse that. This is true on a national scale as well. There are many reasons why a nation may be seduced to release the evil and crucify the good. But none of those reasons can truly justify the action. Not in the individual either. So, again, release the good and crucify the evil. Don’t give up on the battle. Grace.