What will you do with Jesus?
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” (NIV) Matthew 27:22
In this verse Jesus has been taken from the garden and from the presence of his disciples. He now stands before the Jews with Pilate at his side. Pilate, because of Jewish tradition, knows that because of Jewish tradition, they will have one prisoner released. Pilate knows that Jesus is innocent of any and all charges. Hoping the Jews will have Jesus released he asks them who to release and they ask for Barabbas. He then asks them what he should do with Jesus. He did not really understand the full significance of the question. This question confronted Pilate, Herod, the Roman Empire, the Jews, Peter, Judas, as well as every human being who has ever lived on this earth since that time. Let us look at how some have answered this question.
Judas Answered: "I Will Betray Him". Judas was Jesus friend (Psa. 41:9; Mt. 26:50). He walked with Christ. (2) He ate with Christ. (3) Yet, he betrayed Christ with a kiss for thirty pieces of silver (Mt. 26:49; 27:3-5). When men today refuse to obey Christ they sometimes sell him for far less than Judas did. Today folks sell Jesus for Strong Drink (Gal. 5:21; Prov. 23:31). Popularity and power (Mt. 27:22-24). Fornication (Gal. 5:19-21). Some even money, same as Judas, sometimes more, sometimes less (Mt. 19:24; 1 Tim. 6:9-11).
When Christians leave the faith they give up much more than anyone could possibly pay back to them. They give up a crown of life (2 Tim. 4:8). They give up peace and rest (Mt. 11:28-30). They give up the abundant life (Jno. 10:10). They give up their peace of mind because they crucify Christ afresh every day they live in sin (Heb. 6:5,6).
Peter answered: "I Will Deny Him". Peter did not want to deny him, he loved Christ (Mt. 26:33). He first stood up for Christ in the garden (Mt. 26:51). He then weakened and followed Christ afar off (Mt. 26:58). He then denied Christ not once, not twice but three times (Mt. 26:59-75). Men, today, deny Christ when they refuse to make him the Lord of their lives and confess him with their lives (2 Pet. 3:15; Mt. 10:22,23). Also when we refuse to confess him verbally (Rom. 10:10; Acts 8:37).
Pilate answered: "I Will Wash My Hands Of Him". Pilate wanted to turn Jesus loose because he knew that he was innocent (Mt. 27:21-23). He did not have the fortitude to set him free (Mt. 27:24). He cared more for his job and popularity than he did for an innocent life (Prov. 6:16-19). Today, church members wash their hands of Christ when they Sit back and allow the church (individual Christians) to come under attack and do nothing to stop it (2 Tim. 4:16), when they sit back and do nothing to bring others to Christ (Mt. 25:14-30). Also when they Care more for their good standing in the world than they do for God (Jas. 4:4) and when we sit back and allow false teachers to teach unopposed (Rom. 16:17; 1 Pet. 2:1-3; 2 Jno. 9-11). Alien sinners wash their hands of Jesus when they refuse to obey the word after hearing it (Jno. 5:25; Heb 2:2-3). Also when they Join in with others in attacking God, the Bible and the church (Acts 28:22).
The Jews Answered: "Crucify Him". The Jews hated him and would have done anything to get him out of the way (Mt. 17:22-25). When Christians go back into the world they crucify him again (Heb. 6:5:6).
We have seen some answers that some gave to this question: Judas betrayed him. Peter denied him. Pilate washed his hands of him. And the Jews crucified him. But there is one other answer that can be given to that question. Peter repented and lived for him and eventually died for him (Mt. 27:75; 1 Pet. 5:1). Steven died for him (Acts 7:58-60). Paul later changed his life and died for him (Acts 7:58; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). We to can live and die for him. If we do we will receive a crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8). The question remains: "What Will You Do With Jesus?"