John 18:40 says, “Then they all cried again, saying, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas was a robber.” Pilate ended his examination of Jesus saying he found “no fault in him at all” (v. 38). He offered the Jews a choice between prisoners, Jesus or Barabbas. It was hardly a fair choice — Barabbas “was a robber” and murderer (Mark 15:7). The Jews loved it that Barabbas fought Rome, so their choosing him over Jesus shows that ‘birds of a feather flock together.’ But here is a fascinating insight: in Hebrew Barabbas means “son of (bar) the father (abbas).” This also describes Jesus (2 John 3). God’s true Son was punished while his guilty created ‘son’ went free. We never hear of Barabbas again. Based on his character he probably thought Jesus was some unfortunate loser. We know better. Let’s never forget the suffering Jesus experienced to set us free.