Years ago in an eastern city lived a well-known Jewish merchant. He had a warmhearted Christian friend who earnestly desired the eternal welfare of the merchant. As business men the Christian and the Jew frequently used to meet at lunch time to discuss their affairs together, and the Christian plainly and faithfully put forward the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ. His Jewish friend would listen politely but never would he make any comment.
By-and-by this Jewish merchant became very ill. At last word was brought to his Christian friend that he was dying. The Christian longed to go to see him, but was told that he would not be allowed to do so. Finally the message came that the Jew could not live much longer, and his friend determined to make a last effort to see him. When he introduced himself at the door, he heard the doctor say: "Let him in; he cannot do him any harm now." Promising not to try to talk to the sick man, the Christian entered the room and slipped to the bedside. He knelt there, taking his friend's poor, thin hand in his own. Silently he lifted his heart to God on behalf of the dying Jewish merchant.
At first the sick man lay there with closed eyes, breathing heavily, apparently unconscious. Suddenly there was a change. His eyes opened. The glaze of death gave place to recognition as he beheld his friend. Then his lips parted; and just before he slipped into eternity he uttered distinctly the words, "Not Barabbas, but this Man.”