Mark 15:7
And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
Mark 15:7 belongs to the trial of Jesus before Pilate the Roman governor and the events leading to His crucifixion, and to the road from Pilate's hall to Calvary where Jesus was led to be crucified. Pilate found no fault in Jesus and recognized that the charges against Him came from the envy and plotting of the Jewish leaders. Christ stood bound as a prisoner in the judgment-hall surrounded by a guard of soldiers while the hall fast filled with spectators, and the judges of the Sanhedrin, priests, rulers, elders, and the mob who had brought Him from their condemnation to have the sentence confirmed and executed remained outside.
Barabbas was a prisoner bound with the other rebels who had made insurrection with him, and he had committed murder in the insurrection, making him a notorious robber and murderer. He was a hardened ruffian whose guilt and dangerous character could be read at a glance and drew contempt even from the Roman soldiers. He had falsely claimed to be Christ and, under satanic delusion, practiced theft, robbery, and murder while claiming religious power and the right to establish a new order and set the world right.
Set side by side with Jesus, Barabbas in his hardened guilt stood in striking contrast to the innocent Saviour. Jesus appeared stripped and bleeding from scourging, wearing the robe of mockery and crown of thorns, yet beautiful in gentleness and resignation and tender pity for His foes, with the strength and dignity of longsuffering and no cowardly weakness. The contrast spoke to every beholder, moving spectators to weeping sympathy, convicting even priests and rulers that Jesus was all He claimed to be, filling the watching soldiers with deep pity at His silent submission, and amazing Pilate, who hoped the sight would move the Jews to release Jesus as innocent.
When Pilate offered the choice between the two, the crowd that had once hailed Jesus as king turned against Him. At the urging of fanatical hatred from the priests, rulers, and mob, the people demanded the release of Barabbas the criminal instead of the innocent Jesus and cried for the crucifixion of Jesus. The cross prepared for Barabbas was instead laid on Jesus, while Barabbas's fellow insurrectionists were to be executed with Jesus.
Placed beside Jesus, Barabbas represents Satan, whom the crowd chose instead of Christ, and that choice is repeated whenever people choose Satan and reject Christ, so that each person demonstrates a choice between them. The disciples saw in this sudden turning of the crowd how quickly the world's favor can change, and were prepared not to base their faith on the crowd's approval.