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Barabbas

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 11, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 42, No. 22.

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Barabbas.

By Jos. Clarke

“Now Barabbas was a robber.” John 18: 40. The people incensed and urged on by wicked leaders, had become clamorous for the life-blood of the Man who went from place to place healing the sick, restoring the blind to sight, healing the deaf and the lame, and every species of disease of mind and body. He whose wondrous power could with a touch raise the dead, or heal disease, had a still more important mission: this was, to rebuke sin and to encourage innocence.
Barabbas was a robber. How different the two individuals! Jesus, who knew no sin, was constantly employed in doing for others. Self he did not serve; the man, Christ Jesus, had no earthly home; slept, if he could find time to sleep, wherever night overtook him; and ate his daily food (while toiling for others) by the seashore, or at the humble board of his lowly followers, or often, perhaps, he fasted.
Barabbas served himself. Not caring for others, he went so far as to appropriate the hard earnings of others to his own use, without their knowledge or consent; and yet the people preferred him to the noble man of Calvary.
Mankind are divided into just two classes: one class, like Jesus, are continually doing good to others, and are never offended when neglected or slighted. If they can only benefit others, and serve God, they are happy. The second class serve themselves. If they are not robbers, they rob God of his glory by idolizing self. They seem born to be served. Reader, to which class do you belong? or which do you prefer? Which, by your influence, do you favor and uphold? You cannot be neutral. If you are not decidedly for Jesus, doing all you can to aid and comfort him, and to maintain his cause among men, you are aiding Barabbas in his iniquity.
Both Christ and Barabbas have their representatives among us, and we are following one or the other of these classes. Where do we stand? “Who is on the Lord’s side? Who?” Jos. CLARKE.