Articles
Somebody Died for You
Somebody Died for You
By Oswald Smith
It was night. Another day had gone, and all was still. But what matter...it was always night in the cold, clammy dungeon where Barabbas lay. The sun now and then did manage to penetrate the inky blackness that ever reigned beneath the surface of the ground, but even then it could not be called light; it was only less dark. Yet there was a difference for this murderer, who awaited the execution of his awful sentence. It was the last night on earth for him; well he knew it. His career was ended; his last crime committed.
Back in the darkest corner he crouched, deep in thought. A few more hours and all would be over. Ah, but would it? In the morning he would hear the footfall of the death warden as he came down the corridor. Then for a moment the footsteps would cease as the warden paused before the door of Barabbas's dungeon. The great key would clank in the lock, the bolt fly back, and the heavy door swing slowly open. And then Barabbas would be dragged out, be led to the fatal spot, and be nailed to the cross. For hours, it might be, he would suffer excruciating agony, exposed to the public gaze of an indifferent populace; for he must pay the penalty for his crimes.
In the morning he did hear the steps of the jailer coming along the corridor. The key was placed in the lock. The bolt did fly back, and in another moment the great door was opened. And Barabbas still crouched in the darkest corner as before. But that was as far as his surmises of the night realized!
"Barabbas, have you heard the good news?" It was the warden's voice, jubilant and strong.
"What good news?" responded the condemned man in a bitter tone. "All I know is that this is the day of my execution, and that you have come to lead me out to be crucified for my crimes." And he shrank farther back against the cold, wet wall.
"Ah! But you don't know," replied the warden in the same triumphant tone. "Listen, Barabbas, somebody died for you!"
"Somebody died for me! What do you mean?"
"Come with me, and I will show you, Barabbas."
Through the door, along the corridor, past numerous cells, into the street, and beyond the wall of Jerusalem they made their way, the jailer forging ahead, hurrying his dazed prisoner along. At last they paused.
"Do you see yonder cross?" he declared, placing his hand on the shoulder of the other, and pointing to a hill some distance away.
The condemned man looked, but it was a few moments before he could comprehend the scene before him, so unaccustomed were his eyes to the light of day. But at last he saw and spoke.
"Yes, I see. There are three, are there not?"
"But do you see the center one?"
"Yes."
"Well, Barabbas, that center cross was made for you, and you were to have died on it this morning."
Slowly the light dawned on his beclouded mind.
"Then, that Man hanging on it is dying in my place....for me!"
"Yes, Barabbas, for you. Did I not tell you that somebody died for you?"
"Can it be possible! For me, dying for me, taking my place! But yes, that cross was made for me, and I should have been hanging there now. And yet, He is dying in my stead. He has taken my place. I can't understand it. I don't know why He did it. But He did, and I can't help but believe it. He is really and truly dying for me."
"Yes Barabbas, for you."
And for you, too, sinner friend. Jesus Christ the Son of God hung there that day for you as well as for Barabbas. He took your place, died in your stead, became your substitute, bore your sins, gave His life that you, a poor, lost, guilty sinner, might live.
Isn't that good news? You deserve death, but you do not need to die. You ought to pay the penalty for your sins, but another has paid it for you. Yes, somebody died for you, and that somebody was God's only begotten Son. We must accept Him as our substitute by obedience to the will of God. (Adapted from a tract published by Osterhus Publishing House, Minneapolis, MN)
Christianity
To some people, Christianity is little more than ritualism, pageantry, pomp, and ceremony. Such was the attitude of the Pharisees concerning the religion established by the law of Moses. For them, ritualism, ceremony, pageantry and show were everything; character and conduct were nothing.
Christianity is not pageantry, pomp, ritualism and ceremony. You may be sure that the people who parade their Christianity by pageantry and pomp, and by wearing the gorgeous robes and sparkling jewelry have failed completely to understand what Christianity is.
• Christianity is right living in the various relationships of life.
• In the home, Christianity is love, kindness, and training children in the way they should go.
• In business, Christianity is diligence, honesty and fairness.
• In society, Christianity is courtesy and helpfulness.
• In the church, Christianity is faithfulness, humility, love, soberness, righteousness and godliness.
• Toward God Christianity is reverence and obedience.
• Toward the poor, Christianity is helpfulness.
• Concerning self, Christianity is glorifying God with the body and spirit. (Basil D. Shilling)
A Moments Wisdom
--The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people half way.
--High station in life is earned by the gallantry with which appalling experiences are survived with grace.
--The attempt to silence a man is the greatest honor you can bestow on him. It means that you recognize his superiority to yourself.
--Love is what is left in a relationship after all the selfishness has been removed.
--It takes a completely honest man to tell the difference between when he is tired and when he is just plain lazy.
--Look at a day when you were supremely satisfied at its end. It is not a day when you relaxed and did nothing; it is when you had everything to do and you have done it.
--You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers; you can tell whether he is wise by his questions.
--You are entitled to your own opinion. You are not entitled to your own facts.
--He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.
Upcoming Sermons
3/31/24 AM - Service to Appoint Elders and Deacons; PM - The Grace of Giving (Requested)
4/7/24 AM - “I Cannot Give!” (Requested); PM - Themed Singing Service: Sweet Hour of Prayer
4/14/24 AM - Little Sins; PM - Why Can One Earn a Place in Hell but not a Home in Heaven?
4/21/24 AM - Understanding Christian Humility; PM - “Have I Committed the ‘Sin Unto Death?’”
4/28/24 AM - The Simplicity of God’s Plan of Salvation; PM - Benevolence: Collective and Individual
