Did you know there were likely two “Jesuses” standing before Pontius Pilate? Today marks the second week in our Cross Connections series. In it, we will be examining various characters at the end of Christ’s life. This week, we look to a man named “Jesus, son of Abba” (Matt 27:16)— or as you may know him, “Barabbas.”

Matthew intentionally highlights a confusing similarity between Christ and Barabbas in order to pose a question that matters to us: “Which ‘Jesus’ do you want (The Christ of Scripture, or the one who merely fits your preferences)?