Matthew 27:20

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.

This shows that Pilate's judgment relative to the popularity of Christ vs. Barabbas was correct. If left to themselves, the multitude would surely have chosen Christ; but the priests left nothing to chance, and did a "hard sell" on the multitude. That they were able to succeed in such a task was due to the general reverence and respect in which they were held. They had enough influence to accomplish their purpose.

Thus, the fourth effort of Pilate to release Christ was drowned in the roar of the mob, "Give us Barabbas!" "Crucify Jesus!"

How irresponsible and unruly is a mob! Let those who hold the view, "Vox populi, vox Dei" behold this case in which the "voice of the people" was the voice of Satan. It was the voice of the people that said to Aaron, "Make us gods to go before us." It was the voice of the people that turned out the garlands and oxen to do sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:11). It was the voice of the people that shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David" on Sunday, and, before the week ended, shouted, "Crucify him! crucify him!"

Who o'er the herd would wish to reign? Fantastic, fickle, fierce, and vain, Vain as the leaf upon the stream, And fickle as a changeful dream, Fantastic as a woman's mood, And fierce as frenzy's fevered blood; Thou many headed monster thing, O, who would wish to be thy king?[2]

What a triumph of evil in that horrible choice of Barabbas instead of Christ! It was not enough that the Prince of Life be rejected; such was the cunning of the evil one that the Lord's chosen people shouted their preference for a brutal criminal instead. There is a pattern in that perverted choice that extends endlessly through man's spiritual history. Rejection of the truth always results in the acceptance of something else. As Paul said, "They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:4). When men turn away from Christ, they accept Karl Marx, Mrs. Eddy, Joseph Smith, etc.