The gospel writers said little (and probably didn’t know much) about the two men Rome
crucified with Jesus. They did write that Pilate, the Roman procurator, said he’d free Jesus—or
Barabbas,a violent rebel. Mark 15 (andMatthew 27)used a word that often meant “rebel” to describe the men crucified with Jesus. Some scholars believe they were Barabbas’ allies, since it appears Pilate originally planned to crucify him, not Jesus (Mark 15:7).

• Matthew 27:16 made the choice Pilate offered more pointed. Pilate said he’d release “Jesus Barabbas”(his full name, it seems) or “Jesus who is called the Christ.” In an armed revolt against the Romans Jesus Barabbas killed one or more people (cf.Mark 15:7,Luke 23:19). Many no doubt saw him as a heroic fighter. The Romans saw him as a terrorist. Who gets your vote: Jesus Barabbas, the man willing to fight the bad guys with violence, or Jesus of Nazareth, who taught us to love our enemies?

• In their seeming triumph, Jesus’ enemies acknowledgedhe’d saved others (though a bad man couldn’t do that), then mocked him for not saving himself. “Come down from thecross,” they said. “Then we’ll see and believe.” After Jesus endured the cross, and arose two days later, they did no such thing. What is it in the human heart that moves us to mock those who are weak, hurting, apparently defeated? How can you become more gracious, in victory and in defeat?

From Grow.Pray.Study (GPS) The Church of the Resurrection--Weekly Guide