18But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.–Luke 23
- According to the Roman government, there was no legal basis to crucify Jesus.
- The Romans reserved crucifixion largely for insurrectionists and murderers.
- Luke presents Pilate as wanting to appease an angry mob rather than focusing on the law.
- Jesus literally bore the punishment and shame of the guilty.
- See yourself as Barabbas in this story. Jesus also bore your cross and shame. He was punished in your place.–JMB
Joel M Bradshaw 
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