How often have you chosen death over life? Lies over truth? Destruction over peace? How often have you chosen this in order to do what you wanted to do vs. accepting the consequences of your actions or working through that which you struggle with? Well, this isn’t anything new. The Jews did the same thing to Jesus. Selecting to release a violent robber, someone who actually was hurting the community, rather than Jesus. Simply because He challenged what they understood and was a threat to the Jewish leaders of that time. Honestly, they just didn’t want to release the control they felt they had over the people. Jesus brought the truth that would change lives but that truth would change not only the mindset of the community but the world.

Then they all shouted back again, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

— John 18:40 AMP