“Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.”
John 18:40
At the heart of the crucifixion story lies one of humanity’s darkest moments — the rejection of Christ. Standing before the people were two men: one guilty, one innocent. One who had taken lives, and One who came to give life. Yet, the crowd chose Barabbas, the robber, over Jesus, the Redeemer.
That cry, “Not this man, but Barabbas,” echoes through time, not only as a historical decision but as a spiritual reality. Every time we choose sin over righteousness, pride over humility, or the world over the Word, we repeat that tragic choice. We still choose Barabbas when we justify wrongdoing, excuse disobedience, and silence the voice of truth for convenience.
Every day, the same choice stands before us; between the fleeting pleasures of sin and the eternal peace of Christ. We may not stand in Pilate’s hall, but our words, actions, and priorities reveal whom we choose.
Charge: Whom will you choose today? Will you let the noise of the crowd sway you, or will you stand with Christ even when He seems unpopular?
Further Study: Joshua 24:15; Proverbs 14:12; Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 27:20-22; John 1:11-12; Romans 1:21-22, 6:16; Revelation 3:20.
