As we start this new year this is a question that we need to answer. Where we will spend eternity is dependent upon the answer and the follow through of that very question. So, the question comes to you, “What will you do with Jesus?” Even if you don’t consciously answer this question you are answering it each and every day by the way you live your life.
In Matthew chapter 27 Pilate is facing the most difficult and most significant decision of his career. He has Jesus, falsely accused of treason and other crimes, before him. Pilate can find no wrongdoing in Christ. Under those circumstances Jesus should have been cleared and freed. Pilate made a mistake that is almost unimaginable. Picture a courtroom with a judge and a defendant and a plaintiff, a common picture. Now, after the questioning is over and no evidence against the accused has been found, imagine if you can, the judge turning to the accusers and saying, “What should I do?” What do you think the accusers will say? As shocking as it seems that is what Pilate did. You see Pilate was asking the right question, he just went to the wrong source for the answer.
Pilate’s wife had sent a message to him to have nothing to do with Jesus. She warned him that Jesus was a just man. Of course, he is much more than that, and her advice to have nothing to do with him was not wise. Pilate, regardless of her advice, could not avoid this decision. Even though he tried to pass it off to Herod (Luke 23), Herod sent Jesus back. We are in the same difficult position as Pilate. We can’t pass the decision off to someone else, we must each answer for himself.
There are several responses that can be made to this question:
1) You may choose to ignore it and do nothing. This is the same as rejecting Jesus.
2) You may choose to wait until later and do nothing now. This is the same as rejecting Jesus.
3) You may choose to reject Jesus and his claim on you.
4) You may claim to serve him in word, but do your own will. This is also the same as rejecting Him.
5) You may pretend to serve him with your actions, but not with your heart. This is rejecting Him.
6) You may ask others, even Jesus’ enemies, what they think you should do? This can be dangerous.
7) You may try to serve Jesus and someone or something else. This rejects His absolute sovereignty.
8) You may choose to serve Him and worship Him according to his commands with your whole heart.
You may be able to think of other responses or scenarios, but the fact is that anything other than total submission to Jesus and his commandments is a rejection of Him as Lord and Christ.
What are you going to do with Jesus? You had better make sure you choose wisely and follow through because one day all who have ever lived will stand before Him in judgment and wait to see what He will do with them. I will be there, and you will be there, too. It will be too late then. We must answer now.
In Matthew chapter 27 Pilate is facing the most difficult and most significant decision of his career. He has Jesus, falsely accused of treason and other crimes, before him. Pilate can find no wrongdoing in Christ. Under those circumstances Jesus should have been cleared and freed. Pilate made a mistake that is almost unimaginable. Picture a courtroom with a judge and a defendant and a plaintiff, a common picture. Now, after the questioning is over and no evidence against the accused has been found, imagine if you can, the judge turning to the accusers and saying, “What should I do?” What do you think the accusers will say? As shocking as it seems that is what Pilate did. You see Pilate was asking the right question, he just went to the wrong source for the answer.
Pilate’s wife had sent a message to him to have nothing to do with Jesus. She warned him that Jesus was a just man. Of course, he is much more than that, and her advice to have nothing to do with him was not wise. Pilate, regardless of her advice, could not avoid this decision. Even though he tried to pass it off to Herod (Luke 23), Herod sent Jesus back. We are in the same difficult position as Pilate. We can’t pass the decision off to someone else, we must each answer for himself.
There are several responses that can be made to this question:
1) You may choose to ignore it and do nothing. This is the same as rejecting Jesus.
2) You may choose to wait until later and do nothing now. This is the same as rejecting Jesus.
3) You may choose to reject Jesus and his claim on you.
4) You may claim to serve him in word, but do your own will. This is also the same as rejecting Him.
5) You may pretend to serve him with your actions, but not with your heart. This is rejecting Him.
6) You may ask others, even Jesus’ enemies, what they think you should do? This can be dangerous.
7) You may try to serve Jesus and someone or something else. This rejects His absolute sovereignty.
8) You may choose to serve Him and worship Him according to his commands with your whole heart.
You may be able to think of other responses or scenarios, but the fact is that anything other than total submission to Jesus and his commandments is a rejection of Him as Lord and Christ.
What are you going to do with Jesus? You had better make sure you choose wisely and follow through because one day all who have ever lived will stand before Him in judgment and wait to see what He will do with them. I will be there, and you will be there, too. It will be too late then. We must answer now.
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