Around 2000 years ago in Israel, it was customary for the Roman governor of the day during the Passover feast to pardon one criminal as a good will gesture to the Jews. When Pontius Pilot was in post, he offered the people what he thought was a no-brainer: either he would free the innocent Jesus or he would free a man called Barabbas – a known murderer. Bizarrely, the people chose Barabbas!

And so, the innocent One took the place of a guilty man.

The Bible tells us that we are all guilty, guilty of sin, and that the unavoidable consequence of sin is death. That’s difficult for many to accept today, but it’s still true. Yet it doesn’t have to be that way, because just as Jesus suffered the death penalty in place of Barabbas – He also stood in our place and paid the price for all and anyone that accept Him as their Lord and Saviour.

Pontius Pilot offered the crowd a choice; they had the opportunity to choose Jesus, but rejected Him. I urge you not to reject Him too. If you haven’t done so already, choose Jesus today.