Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/207

 deliver. Contemplate the  comparison  which  Pilate makes: Light  is  compared  with  darkness,  the  Author  of Life  with  a  murderer,  our  sovereign  Benefactor  with  a robber. Christ, however,  did  not  disdain  it.

II. Consider the  most  foolish  and  unjust  demand  of the  people,  "  Away  with  this  man,  and  release  to  us Barabbas." (Luke xxiii.  18.)  It  was  an  ignominious  act to compare  Jesus  to  this  man,  but  most  insolent  and ignominious to  prefer  him  to  Jesus. Now is  the  oracle of the  prophet  perfectly  fulfilled,  "I  am  a  worm  and  no man,  the  reproach  of  men,  and  the  outcast  of  the  people. " (Ps. xxi.  7.)  What  are  the  opinions  and  judgments  of this  world? What wise  man  would  place  any  confidence in them,  or  care  whether  he  were  an  object  of  their  censure or  of  their  praise? As often  as  you  sin  mortally, you pass  the  same  judgment  as  the  Jews  did,  by  preferring in  your  heart  some  momentary  pleasure  to  an  infinite good,  some  creature  to  the  Creator,  some  Barabbas to Christ.

III. Pilate asked,  "  What  shall  I  do  then  with  Jesus?" (Matt, xxvii.  22.)  The  people  tumultuously  answer, "Crucify Him!  crucify  Him!" (Luke xxiii.  21.)  Observe with  what  modesty  and  patience  Christ  suffered these insults. Often ask  yourself  this  question:  and what shall  I  do  with  Jesus? Will you  esteem,  love, serve, and  honor  Him  as  you  ought,  or  insult,  afflict, and crucify  Him  again? All sinners  act  thus,  "crucifying again  to  themselves,"  as  the  Apostle  teaches,  "  the Son  of  God,  and  making  a  mockery  of  Him." (Heb. vi. 6.)