Barabbas or Jesus?
We must choose between serving selfishness and worldliness (Barabbas) or serving Jesus every moment of our lives.
Mary Wilder Tileston, in her sermon, emphasizes the crucial decision of choosing between serving Barabbas, representing selfishness and worldliness, or Jesus. She highlights the constant battle within us, where every moment presents the choice of allowing either Barabbas or Jesus to reign in our hearts. Tileston warns against giving in to selfish emotions and worldly temptations, as it ultimately leads to crucifying the Lord afresh. She challenges listeners to recognize and restrain their 'Barabbas' tendencies, choosing instead to follow Jesus in obedience and righteousness.
Text
Choose you this day whom ye will serve.
JOSHUA 24:15
BARABBAS and Jesus cannot both live within us. One must die. Yes, every emotion of selfishness or worldliness in every soul plays the part of Barabbas. Good influences may have prevailed for a time, and they, or perhaps motives of worldly regard, may have put Barabbas in prison, and under some restraint; but the decisive, the fatal question, remains, Shall he die? Yes, he or Jesus. Nor is it only on great occasions and in fearful crises that this question comes to us. Every hour, every moment, when we resist what we must know to be the influence of our Lord, and, casting that aside, give the victory, under whatever pretence or name, to that which is indeed our own Barabbas, we then do all that we are able to do to crucify our Lord afresh. Every emotion which tempts us to refuse obedience to Him, "to make insurrection," to suppress and overcome whatever sense of right conscience gives-is not that the robber, rebel, murderer, Barabbas? We may have, indeed, imprisoned him, we may have resolved that he should die--shall we now release him from restraint, and let him go free? If we do, we know now what must happen--we know between what alternatives we choose.
THEOPHILUS PARSONS
Sermon Outline
- The Choice Between Barabbas and Jesus
- The Decision to Choose
- The Consequences of Choosing Barabbas
- Crucifying Jesus afresh
- Suppression of conscience and obedience to God
Key Quotes
“BARABBAS and Jesus cannot both live within us. One must die.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Every emotion which tempts us to refuse obedience to Him, 'to make insurrection,' to suppress and overcome whatever sense of right conscience gives-is not that the robber, rebel, murderer, Barabbas?” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We must be aware of the choices we make every moment and choose to follow Jesus.
- Giving in to selfishness and worldliness is a choice to crucify Jesus afresh.
- We must prioritize obedience to God and follow our conscience.