Like children swinging on a gate and getting no farther forward, so is it with many souls who hear the Gospel.
Decision is called for. Is it to be Christ or Satan? Is it to be heaven or hell? Decide today, and let your decision be the right one.
It was an election day, the most serious election day the world has ever seen. And never will its equal be seen again. It was Christ or Barabbas. These were the only candidates. The vote was cast. Not one vote was recorded for Christ. If there were a hundred thousand voters, the result stood thus:
Christ —0
Barabbas —100,000
Majority for Barabbas —100,000
Yes, Christ was refused. He was set at naught.
But Who is He? "Jesus which is called the Christ.”
JESUS His name shall tell us much.
He is Jehovah the Savior. The Lord of glory become man for the salvation of sinners.
JESUS—His name had resounded throughout the land. He was the Healer and Blesser, who in grace had journeyed from north to south, from east to west, healing and blessing. The Son of God, with all power to forgive the sins, to hush the sorrows, to remove the pains of stricken men and women. And He was the CHRIST, the Messiah, the anointed of God. The long promised Prophet, Priest, and King had come. The types had pictured Him, the Scriptures had promised Him, the psalmists had sung of Him. Now He had come, and by word and work and way had shown His presence. But He was refused and rejected, condemned, cast out, and crucified. With one voice men said, "We will not have this Man to reign over us.”
So said men, and with wicked hands they murdered the Son of God, Jesus which is called the Christ.
What has God done with Jesus which is called the Christ?
It was God who gave Him—His only begotten Son—to be a Savior, so that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
It was God who visited the judgment against sin on His holy head, when He was made sin for us at Calvary.
It was God who raised Him again from the dead, when His glorious atoning work was done.
God has set Jesus at His right hand in glory. He has made Him both Lord and Christ in highest heaven.
The world has rejected Him. God has glorified Him. God and the world are at issue concerning Him then.
Pilate and Herod, Caiaphas and Annas, priests and rulers, the great and the small, all alike rejected Him in that day—nearly two thousand years ago.
But what have men done TODAY? Let us make it personal. What have YOU done with Jesus which is called the Christ?
Unless you have already accepted Him as your Savior you are rejecting Him also.
The world cast Him out and you have kept Him out. He is your Lord. He claims you as His. He knocks at your heart's door today. Hitherto, you have kept that door bolted and barred against Him. You let in business and pleasure, relatives, friends, and acquaintances. But Jesus which is called the Christ has stood knocking in vain—you would not let Him in.
But that is past—you cannot recall it—the record has gone into eternity. We come to this present moment NOW. Does not Pilate's question sound in your soul?
Are you not now saying to yourself, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ"?
Open the door even now to the Savior.
Let Him in while you may.
Behold the Savior at the door!
He gently knocks— has knocked before;
Has waited long—is waiting still:
You use no other friend so ill.
Admit Him, for the human breast
Ne'er entertained so kind a guest
No mortal tongue their joys can tell,
With whom He condescends to dwell.