Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-11-20
EXCELLENT DISCOURSE
aBARABBAS THE POPULAR CHOICE" RBV
AFFORDS THEME
At the Third Presbyterian Church Last Night The
First of a Series of Special Ser
mons on 0hriSts Trial.

discourses upon the characters present
at Christ's trial. The theme for last
nights sermon was ''Barabbas, the
Popular Choice" The text was taken
from John 1s-40-"Then cried they out
J again, saying, not this man, but Barab-
bas. Now, Barsbbas was roboer. "
Rev. Afford spoke as follows:
In the last few days of ChrisFs lie
great events crowded themselves one
] upon another in rapid succession.
Those were very exciting times, and
the city of Jerusalem was very much
| agitated. Being the week of the great
annual passover, the city's capacity for
entertaining pilgrims was tested to It's
utmost. About three million people
were crowded within the walls OF the
celestial city.
Men who were almost unknown are
made famous on account OF their rela-
tions to Christ's tragedy; and their
names are handed down in history. One
of these men is Bsrabbas.
Although he was the most pop
ular man with the people on
the day OF the crucitixlon; and
although the type of manhood he repre-
! scented is popular with the multitudes
to-day, yet he must be quite unpopular
! With the ministry, for they seldom use
| him as the subject Of discourse.
All men stand 10 a three-fod rela-
| ton. In relation TO self. mankind and
10 Christ. Barabbas occupied this COM
mon position in an eminent degree. l
/ -. coil arfnnfinp
to his life In these three relations.
Barabbas, as his name "Bar-Rabbas"
| indicates. was the son of q rabbi. J"
| His full name is "Jesus Bar-Aboss."
| Matthew tells us that he was notable
| risoner." He was wonderful char
acter, and had a thrilling experience.
| In fact he was the ring leader In
| one of the fierce and fanatic
outbreaks, against the Roman author
| ity. which came so frequently in the
| latter DAYS of the Jewish common
wealth. He headed mob Of Anarch-
lists in Jerusalem who were determined
to destroy the constituted society OF
that day. In this instruction some
Roman soldiers were killed and limo
cent blood was shed. Some have also
thought, that Barabbas bad actually
played the roll of false Christ, setting
| himself up for the true, and in this
way he had gathered many into the con-
spiracy. Like the Chicago Anarchists,
he had caused riot in which blood
flowed in the streets, therefore he
richly deserved punishment by the
sword Of Justice. He was notable for
his crimes, being guilty of three, most
enormous ones, - treason, - murder,
and felony. The fierce, frenz-
led. revolutionist, Barabbas, was
the most dangerous man in
all the, Pilates domain. Soil
tary confinement in the dungeon under
Herod's Palace, gave him a fine oppor-
tuuity for meditation, and to discover
what relation he bore TO self.
1t had grown into custom with the
Roman Governors to please the Jews
by the release of some prisoner during
the passover. The Jews thought it an
honor to their feast, as it was a
memorial OF their release from Egyptian
slavery. However, IL was a bad custom
an obstruction to justice and an en-
couragement TO crime. PLATE was
conscious of the innocence Of Christ,
he wished to save him from death, but
he had not the courage Of his
conviction. The multitudes that
had gathered before the palace Of
Herod, where the trial was being
held, shouted for this annual release.
This CRY was now welcome TO Plate,
for he thought he might be able TO re-
lease Jesus to them. IL was customary
To give the people their choice OF pris-
oners, so PLATE said to them: Whom
shall | release unto you?" To his
amazement they cried out "Barabbas. >
The people looked upon Barabbas as q
martyr, patriot, a zealot for the lem
ple and the Law. That Jesus was an
enemy of all these things they felt sure.
When Christ and Barsbbas were held
nm before the multitude they chose Ba
rabbas instead of Christ. This fierce
revolutionist, guilty OF various crimes,
| Justly condemned, awaiting the hour OF
! his execution, is chosen by the people
/ in preference TO the innocent Christ.
| How absurd is that noted saying,
"The voice of the people is the voice
of God" When the people are in
Auenced by sin, as they were
in this case and In thousands Of
cases like it, it would be more appro-
pirate to say, THE voice Of the people
/ is the voice of Satan"
To-day, everywhere around US, men
are choosing Barabbas instead Of Christ.
Men cling TO the world of sin and vice
| and crime. and turn their backs on
God: that is choosing BaraObas instead
of Christ. Men are pouring over the
trashy literature of the world, while
thew light their cigars with the leaves
Of the Bible; that is choosing Barabbas
and rejecting Christ. Men have, this
dav, been crowdng Mozart beer garden
on the hilltop and deserving the church
of God: that is choosing Barabbas and
rejecting Christ.
When the Jerusalem mob cried for
Baraobas' release, and in the same
breath for the eruciixion OF Jesus,
| plate washed his hands, saving
81 am innocent OF the blood Of
| this lust person" The mob
cried back, His blood be upon US and
our children" Every man who to-day
chooses Barabbas rather than Christ
has the blood Of the innocent Christ on
his head, and God will some day re-
ouire it at his hand.
Barabbas was condemned criminal.
In a few hours be would be hanging on
the cross. Christ also comes before
Pilates judgment seat. One Of these
men is TO be released, either the guilty
Barabbas or the Innocent Christ
Which shall 1t be? Barabbas knows
that IL Christ is released he viii have
| TO die. He knows that II he is released
Christ must die in his stead.
Barabbas was toe only man in all that
multitude who understood the vicariors
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