Who will you choose?
Any choice other than Christ is choosing Barabas
Pilate, hoping to avoid responsibility as the crowd demanded Jesus’ death, offered to release a prisoner as was customary. The crowd chose Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer, over Jesus. Seeking to show he was not complicit, Pilate washed his hands before the people and declared himself innocent of Jesus’ blood. The crowd replied, “His blood be on us and on our children,” accepting responsibility and calling for Jesus’ death. Pilate then ordered Jesus to be flogged; after the scourging, the soldiers handed him over to be crucified.
(ai summarized)
“Matthew 27:15–23
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” ”