LK 23:18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
LK 23:19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
LK 23:25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
At this time of year Pilate would release to the Jews a prisoner of their choice. Pilate tried to get them to take Jesus. To help make the choice go in Jesus’ favor the prisoner that Pilate offered was of the worst sort. Most likely he was the worst prisoner that Pilate had at that time. Verse 19 tells us that this man was put into prison for the crime of murder. You could not get a greater contrast between these two. A wicked vile murderer and the spotless, sinless, Son of God. I think that Pilate thought that between the two surely they would pick Jesus for who would want the murderer. He underestimated the wicked dark hearts of this crowd, and they chose the murderer over Jesus. What a dark picture we see here of the dark heart that rejects Jesus. A heart that will accept anything except Jesus.
But we also have something else pictured here. A most wicked sinner was set free in exchange for Jesus. Jesus was punished unto death. A punishment that the murderer deserved. But he was set free because of Jesus. The just who should have been let free is punished unto death and the unjust is set free. He gets a pardon. We see here a picture of what was about to take place on the cross. Wicked sinners were going to be set free and given a pardon because of Jesus dying for them on the cross. Jesus died for you. He took your punishment that you might go free. Have you received your pardon? Have you trusted in Jesus as your Saviour?
