“WHAT SHALL I DO THEN WITH JESUS WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST?”
By E. Hilliard
BY E. HILLIARD.
This great question which confronted Pilate at the crucifixion is that which confronts every individual in this world, whether a professed follower of Christ or not. Our Saviour said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32. Every one sometime in his life feels the wooing of the Spirit drawing him toward Christ and heaven. When under its influence, each one is called upon to decide whether he will yield or reject. This is deciding the question, What shall I do then with Christ?
If we reject him, we as truly sanction his crucifixion as did Pilate when he permitted him to be scourged and crucified. Many think if they had lived in the time of Christ, they would not have rejected him. When we refuse to obey his written word, we reject him as verily as did they who lived when he was upon earth in the flesh. Some of those who crucified Christ, did it blindly; for Jesus prayed, while dying on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” He patiently bore with them, and after he arose from the dead and ascended, he sent down his Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and his prayer was answered. On that day Peter charged them with crucifying Jesus. This pricked them to the heart, and they repented and were baptized. Acts 2:36-41. Then came the crucifixion of self. They had to be baptized in the name of the One they had helped to crucify. Verse 38.
All of the requirements of God are most emphatically against our carnal nature; hence every advanced step will be contrary to us. When any of the commands of God’s word are made known to us, there comes a struggle between self and Christ. Then comes the searching question, Shall I yield my will to the will of Christ, or shall I have my own way? What shall I do then with Jesus which is called the Christ? Shall I, by disobeying him, decide with Pilate to crucify him? or shall I, by obeying him, decide with Paul to be crucified with him? Said the noble apostle, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.
It is painful to be crucified, but the command that places us on trial, will serve to crucify self, and prepare us not only to live with Christ and by him, on earth, but to dwell with him in his kingdom. If we reject the trial, by murmuring and complaining, we reject Him who sends the trial, self lives within us instead of Christ, and the life which we live from that time on is one of selfishness, instead of Christ’s life by the faith of the Son of God. The reason why so many reject Christ is because to accept him is to crucify self. But, dear reader, the death of self means life eternal, and the living of self means death eternal. Let us submit to the crucifixion of self, and this will bring peace; but if self lives, we can not live lives of happiness; for there can be no true happiness out of Christ.
