JESUS is arraigned before Pilate. He has been seized in Gethsemane, bound, hurried before the High Priest, and thence to Pilate's judgment seat. The religious power of the day had decided against Jesus. Now it was for the civil power of Rome to say what was to be done “with Jesus, which is called Christ.”
Pilate is undecided. He is not filled with Jewish hatred nor religious pride. The multitude thirst for the blood of this spotless One that stands before him. Pilate bethinks himself of releasing a prisoner, as he was wont, now the question is, “Whom will ye that I release unto you, Barabbas or Jesus?" Then we read, “The voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.”
The will of man; the world—for Pilate was Caesar's friend—and the religion of that day combine to put to death Jesus the Saviour, the very Son of God. Oh, man, how sad thy choice, how benighted all thy thoughts. How Satan seems in thee to triumph for the moment; were it not for the infinite and wondrous purpose of God who is mighty to save; to save even men.
Barabbas or Jesus? Is it not still a question to be raised with you, reader? Does it not challenge your heart? Are you not halting between two opinions?
In the eighteenth chapter of 1 Kings, Elijah calls for decision. In verse twenty—one he says, “How long halt ye between two opinions?
If the Lord be God follow him; if Baal then follow him.”
Perhaps you say that does not apply now— there is no danger of us bowing down to stocks and stones, or worshipping idols. Yet, dear friend, granting what you say, I must still press the principle upon you. If it be not Baal it is some other god of your own heart you are following, unless you are decided for Christ. Hearken to the Lord's own word: “He that is not with me is against me” (Matt. 12:3030He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (Matthew 12:30)). Reader, are you for Christ or against Him; which? Is the question settled between your soul and God, as to Christ His beloved Son.
Of course you say, “I prefer Jesus to Barabbas a robber." But are you not really allowing something to rob you of Christ? Does not the world rob its thousands of Christ? Does not pleasure in its myriad forms, or science with its all absorbing interest, or religion even with its forms and ceremonies, its external round of observances; do not these things, my reader, take the place that Christ is alone worthy of in many and many a heart. Say then friend, is it Barabbas or Jesus for you?
Are you still a stranger to Christ, the sinner seeking Saviour? Think then of this, that He wants you— He wants your heart. He wants it and is so worthy of it now.
Christ is mighty to save through His work on the cross, mighty to deliver from all the shame and consequences of sin from a deluded world hurrying on to judgment itself. From Satan's power, too, does He deliver, the arch enemy and deceiver who seeks to rob you of Christ, of your soul, of everything that this Saviour makes good to all who trust in Him.
My dear friend, will you halt any longer?
Shall it still be a question with you as to whose you are, and whom you serve? Far better be decided now.
In eternity there is "a great gulf fixed" (Luke 16). Which side of it will you be on? With Christ, as one who believed on Him and followed Him down here? Or shall it be with the devil and his angels in everlasting fire, as one who refused this precious, loving Saviour, and chose your own path which leads down to destruction.
Oh, friend! remember that your eternal destiny hangs on your decision now-your heart's choice. Think of the worth of Jesus; of the infinite value of His finished work; of His being the sinner's Friend. Think, too, of His very death being the door of life for man. Is not He the chiefest among ten thousand, yea, altogether lovely?
It is not an intellectual assent He wants, nor a name to live whilst dead: but it is the deep response of a heart reached by the tale of His love, that was told out on Calvary.
It is the heart's surrender to a love that is stronger than death, and that many waters could not quench.
It is the joyful acceptance of all that love has accomplished for the sinner, of all that Jesus the Saviour gives to the believing, decided heart. Remember, then, dear reader, to lose Christ is to lose all. To allow anything to rob you of Christ is equivalent to preferring Barabbas to Jesus; yea, it is to be loser of the “salvation which is in Him with eternal glory.”
Be in earnest now, friend, be real in view of eternity. Be decided now for Christ. Gladly own what He has done for you as a sinner. Be like the poor slave girl who exclaimed— (of her deliverer when she knew he had paid for her freedom) —"He redeemed me;" and then added, “I'll follow him, I'll serve him." May we truthfully say as we gaze upon such a Saviour as this. “Thine, Lord, thine only, thine wholly, thine forever.”