Barabbas was a convicted murderer, waiting execution. He was guilty, and he deserved his punishment. But he received an unexpected pardon. Jesus went to the cross instead of Barabbas. He went free because Jesus became His substitute. Barabbas' story is also our story: we are guilty of crimes against God, we deserve eternal separation from God, but Jesus took the punishment that we earned. The good news is that we have been set free because Jesus became our Substitute.