The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-06-27
Any One but Jesuy.

This sentiment was involved In the choice
of those Jews who, when asked by Pilate;
"Shan I cruelty your NpgT replied I'VE
have no king but Cesar" The boast OF their
Talmud was, "Israel has no king but Cod"
Their submission to Cesar was forced. Fain
would they have broken his hated yoke.
Yet, so much greater was their hatred OF
Jesus that they could answer PLATE as they
did. Meaning lie, they spoke truth. For,
casting off allegiance to God by rejecting his
Son, and acknowledging Cesar as their
king, they had chosen an earthly rather than
the heavenly ruler, and temporal In prefer
ence to eternal blessings With b. SO 9t sensual
late's question had brought Jesus and Cesar
into direct competition. Knowing their ha-
tired towards his emperor, the willy Roman
NAV have intended to force upon them this
humiliatipg choice. Be this as 1t may, their
answer expresses their purpose to submit to
any humiliation, rather than to own Jesus
as their king Any one but Jesus-this was
the language Of their hearts.
This spirit was again shown when Pnate
proposed to release, at their choice, either the
notorious criminal Barabbas, or the faultless
Jesus. Plate did not think it possible they
could make choice Of so black q criminal
But he had not calculated the depth of their
hate towards the Christ, for no sooner had
he pointed to the latter and asked II ne
should release him, than they cried out, mot
this man, but Barabbas." Barabbas or Je.
sus as companion2 Caesar or Christ as kingl
These were the two choices that were given
these people, to test their spirit; and when
they promptly decided for Barabbas and C@.
sar, they showed that they were determined
to choose any one but Jesus.
This choice may seem shocking; and yet 1t
Is paralleled by the moral disposition which
now denies or with holds allegiance from the
Christ. This may be seen by refecf1ng upon
some of Christ's requirements and the way
multitudes treat them. He calls upon all to
repent and trust in him for salvation; but
Satan tempts them to stand upon their per
sonal merit and they adopt the pleasing sug
gestion. Or, though they may not realize
| the fact, they turn away from Jesus, anc
choose the leadership of Satan. Any one but
! Jesus.
Jesus also offers himself to these as their
hore: Nut the world steps forward as his
competlssr. A choice they must make: Je-
sus or the world--which shall it bel A hope
whose anchor is cast in the sea Of this life, OF
that hope whose anchor Is cast within the
veil, whittier, as forerunner, Jesus entered
| for us? These rival hopes have contended
for their choice and with what result? Alas
the world has been chosen and the Son o.
God stands before them as the rejected rival
Any one but Jesus.
In a word, Jesus has come to every one and
claimed His allegiance The founder OF 6
spiritual kingdom and their rightful sover
eign. BE has claimed the loyalty Of all hearts
Or He comes to ali now, as He did to those
who first rejected Him. His claim to alleg
lance now and then is the same. Then II
was to acknowledge His kingly right to reig1
supremely over souls. Now it Is exactly the
same. Then His claim TO allegiance was re
jected with the declaration, 1--WE have M
king but Cesar" And how many now are
treating His claim in the same wayi TO 81
earthly Caesar, rather than to the heavenly
Christ, is their allegiance paid. And tn!
constant choice Of submission to some othel
authority than to that Of King Jesus col
mean only this-anyone but Jesus: U, ira
God by His Spirit would make all the re]eee
ers of His Son to see the enormity OF thsl
sin.-IEeligious Herald.