We all make choices.  Sometimes they are binary.  The optometrist asks:  “Which is better, A or B?”  Other times we choose from a plethora of options.  Think Starbucks.  Will that be a Mocha, Latte, Cappuccino, Macchiato?  Tall, grande, venti?  Decaf, half-caf, regular? Skinny or regular?  Straight or flavor shots?  Such is life.

Our text today is about choices.  The most obvious one is the one made by the chief priests, elders, and people.  They choose between Jesus, the King of the Jews, or Barabbas, a notorious criminal.  As you know, they chose poorly, and Jesus goes to the cross because of it.

While that decision is at the heart of our reading, there are other choice as well.  It is one of those on which we want to focus today.  That is the choice Pontius Pilate made.

To set the st…