In Matthew 27:15-31, Mark 15:6-20, Luke 23:13-26, and John 18:39-19:17, we find the Bible story of Pilate making the people choose between Barabbas and Jesus. This is a pivotal moment in the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, tries to avoid taking responsibility for Jesus' fate by offering to release one prisoner during the Jewish festival of Passover. He presents the people with a choice between Jesus, who he believes is innocent, and Barabbas, a notorious criminal.
The crowd, stirred up by the Jewish leaders, demands the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate acquiesces to their demands, washing his hands of Jesus' blood, and ultimately sentencing him to death. The choice between Barabbas and Jesus highlights the tension between earthly power and divine purpose.
We have compiled a range of creative ideas and activities below that relate to this Bible story. These resources are designed to help you share this important message in an engaging and interactive way, whether you are a children's ministry leader, a Sunday school teacher, or a religious educator in a Christian primary school.
Our activities below are suitable for use in various settings such as church children's programs, children's ministry, catechism classes, children's services, Bible clubs, vacation Bible school, and Sunday school, and will help students understand the relevance of the Bible to their lives, and the importance of applying its teachings in practical ways.
