He’s the Robin Hood We Need!
Barabbas' name appears as bar-Abbas in the Greek texts of the gospels. It is derived ultimately from the Aramaic בר-אבא, Bar-abbâ, "son of the father".
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“Give us Bar-Abbas!”
He’s the Robin Hood We Need!
We would rather have bar-Abbas…
He’s the one who must be freed!
He’s our Heavy-handed Hero.
He’s the Robin Hood we need!
He’s the one we’re sure can help us.
He’s the one to keep around!
(Let’s renew the insurrection…)
(He could kick Rome out of town!)
He’s the real Good Guy we look to.
He’s the Strong Arm sent to save.
He’s the Muscle Man God’s given…
He’s The Fighter that we crave.
He’s bar-Abbas (Rebel Leader),
He’s our father’s son1, for sure!
We’re Pro-Choice, and we’ve decided
He’s the one who holds our cure.
Mr. Pilate, make it happen!
We’re the crowd you need to please.
Wash your hands!...Come on! Just do it!
Every Pharisee agrees!
* * *
Do we champion bar-Abbas?
Is the multitude still stirred?
Can the Truth remain long-buried2?
Could this be the final Word3?
* * *
“Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
“But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!” Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!” So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
Barabbas, Pilate, Truth, crucifixion, resurrection