Pilate wanted to release Jesus.

He thought he would punish Him and let Him go. But the crowd’s reaction was unexpected:

Crucify Him!, they all shouted.

Pilate decided to let the crowd decide between Jesus and a prisoner called Barabbas, a criminal who made a lot of trouble among the people.

The crowed chose to free Barabbas.

In spite of it all, Jesus did not try to escape. He knew what He was going to suffer, and knew why He was going to suffer. He was whipped, spit upon, mocked, and stripped of His robe, all this in order to fulfill the will of His Father, to die for the sins of people.