"What We All Have in Common with Barabbas" (Mark 15:1-15) by Hiram Kemp
About this episode
Hiram Kemp explores the life of Barabbas in Mark 14-15 to illustrate personal guilt and the Gospel's message of forgiveness through Jesus.
June 28, 2026 - Sunday AM Sermon In this sermon-style episode Hiram walks through Mark 14–15 and the life of Barabbas to show how the Gospel confronts each listener personally. Using the betrayal, Jewish trials (Annas, Caiaphas), and Jesus’ appearance before Pilate as the backdrop, the sermon explains why the crowd demanded Barabbas instead of Jesus and how envy and deception drove that choice. Hiram outlines three clear parallels between Barabbas and every person: (1) we are guilty and condemned (drawing on Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, Psalm 51, Romans), (2) the world lies to us and deceives us about what will truly satisfy (referencing Genesis, 1 John, Hebrews, and cultural examples), and (3) Jesus steps into our place—taking the punishment we deserve so we might be offered forgiveness and new life (explained with Luke 23, 2 Corinthians, Isaiah 53, and other texts). The episode surveys many biblical cross-references (Isaiah, Psalms, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, John, 1 Peter) and contemporary illustrations—like Project Innocence and modern cultural temptations—to show the timelessness of the message. The preacher emphasizes self-examination, the danger of rationalizing sin, and…
People in this episode
Host: Hiram Kemp
Topics covered
- Gospel message
- self-examination
- forgiveness
- deception
- condemnation
- repentance
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Cumberland Trace Church of Christ, Lehman Ave Church of Christ
Books & works: Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, Psalm 51, Romans, Genesis, 1 John, Hebrews, Isaiah 53
More episodes of Cumberland Trace Church of Christ (Formerly Lehman Ave Church of Christ)
- June Questions and Answers Service by Hiram Kemp and Neal Pollard
- "A Study of the book of Acts" by Neal Pollard - Part 4
- Men of the New Testament: "Barnabas" by Barrett Hammer - Part 3
- "Live for Jesus, Not Yourself" by Hiram Kemp
- "Mastering the Mind" by Neal Pollard
- "A Study of the book of Acts" by Hiram Kemp - Part 3
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