At that time there was a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas.
In this verse the figure of Barabbas is presented, a notorious criminal, whose name “Jesus Barabbas” means “Jesus, son of the father.” This coincidence is deeply symbolic: the people stand between two “Jesuses,” one the leader of an earthly rebellion, the other the King of heavenly peace. Humanity must choose which Jesus it will believe in: the liberator with a weapon, or the Savior with a cross. In this way, the historical event becomes an image of spiritual choice: the rejected Innocent is replaced by the guilty, and thus the mystery of God’s salvation is revealed—the guilty one is released, and the Righteous One is condemned for the salvation of humanity.