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21. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.Luke 23:21. Here in Luke 23:18-25, we have an account of the crowd's rejection of Jesus in place of a convicted murderer. Pilate seeks to release Jesus, knowing He is innocent. But here the justice system fails; Pilate surrenders to the crowd. The crowd wants Jesus to die and with loud voices insists Jesus must be crucified. Pilate gives in to their pressure and sentences Jesus, an innocent man, to the cross. And Barabbas, a man truly guilty of murder and rebellion, goes free. The lesson here is, even though the legal system fails, God's plans will succeed. Barabbas goes free because Jesus took his place. This is the Gospel in real life: you and I are like Barabbas; we are guilty but offered a pardon because Jesus died in our place. Amen.