CHURCH
LUTHERAN
Our Savior's of Elderon
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5th Wednesday of Lent 16 INI Matthew27:22
Some trials never seem to end. Just when you think they’re over, new evidence is introduced or new witnesses are called and the trial keeps on going. So sometimes it does seem like some trials never end.
The truth is there is one that never really ended. That’s the trial of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now perhaps you’re thinking, wait a minute pastor, that trial ended 2000 years ago when Pilate washed his hands and said; “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility.” Matthew 27:24)
When Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified it looked like the trial was over. In a sense it was over. Jesus’ trial before Pilate ended the morning of that 1st Good Friday.
However, in another sense the trial of Jesus goes on every day in the life of everyone who knows Jesus or confronts him in their life. Each day the trial continues as each of us face the question Pilate asked; “What shall I do with Jesus?” Every single day you and I face that question and the trial of Jesus continues as he is either crucified or glorified, as he is either exalted in our lives our shoved out of our lives.
So tonight we’re going to take a look at this question, this question that causes the trial of Jesus to continue to this very day in the lives of those who meet him,
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH JESUS?
You and I need an answer to that question. Praise God Jesus gives us the answer.
No one really wanted anything to do with Jesus after he was arrested in Gethsemane. First there was Simon Peter who swore he didn’t know this man called Jesus. He even called down curses on himself in his attempt to convince people that he had nothing to do with this man called Jesus.
Then there was Annas who hustled Jesus off to Caiaphas. And Caiaphas, after a hasty, mockery of a trial, unloaded the problem of what to do with Jesus onto Pilate. Pilate didn’t want the problem of what to do with Jesus so he sent him off to King Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. Herod was happy to see Jesus but he didn’t really want the problem of what to do with him, so he sent him back to Pilate.
Pilate, of course, still didn’t want the problem of what to do with Jesus. He knew that Jesus was guilty of nothing more than making the Jews envious of his popularity. He had really done nothing wrong. So Pilate, trying to dodge the problem of what to do with Jesus, tried to pawn the decision off on the Jews. He gave them a choice between a criminal named Barabbas and Jesus. He figured that way he wouldn’t have to decide what to do with Jesus.
But, that failed too. Contrary to what he expected, the Jews chose Barabbas to be free instead of Jesus. That meant that Pilate still had a problem, what to do with Jesus. Pilate knew the right thing to do but the problem was he didn’t have the courage to do it. So he said; “What then, shall I do with Jesus?” That’s a question you and I still face today.
Each and every day of our lives, every time we make judgments about values, each time we set priorities in our lives, each time we decide what’s important in our lives, we are faced with the question, “What shall I do with Jesus?”
Do you realize that every decision you make, every thought you have, every word you speak and every action you take is an answer to that question? The question isn’t, “What have I done with Jesus in the past?” It’s not; “What do I plan to do with Jesus in the future?” No, the question is, “What shall I do with Jesus now, at the present moment?”
It a question you face from the time you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night. It’s a question you face from the time you come into this world until the time you leave this world. Jesus is on trial in our hearts each and every day as the Lord invites us to live our lives for him and as Satan encourages us to live our lives for him.
Jesus is on trial as you set goals and make plans for your life. Our sinful flesh looks only to this world. It wants to lay up treasures for this world only. It wants to make that the focus of our lives. The Spirit says; “Lay up treasures in heaven, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, trust that the Lord will take care of the rest.” Sinful man answers, “I can’t do that!” Jesus is on trial and we face the question, “What shall we do with Jesus?”
So yes, some trials never end. The trial of Jesus is like that. Just as he stood before Pilate and Pilate was faced with the question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” so also Jesus is still on trial in our hearts and lives today. So what’s the answer to the question; “What shall we do with Jesus?”
The answer to the question (2). Pilate didn’t want anything to do with Jesus. He would have ignored the whole question if he could have. If possible, he would have pawned the problem of what to do with Jesus on someone else. But this was a question he couldn’t escape.
It’s a question you and I cannot escape either. It’s a question each of us must answer for ourselves. Pilate asked the question correctly; “What shall I do with Jesus?” Jesus was on trial before him. So it was up to Pilate to decide what to do with Jesus. No one could make the decision for him.
Pilate’s wife had a dream about Jesus. She was convinced he was innocent. That’s why she told him not to have anything to do with that innocent man. Of course, that’s really what Pilate wanted all along. That’s why he was trying to hand the problem of what to do with Jesus to someone else. But he couldn’t get away with doing nothing to Jesus. So there Pilate stood and there were the Jews. So then he asked what he should do with Jesus. The answer they gave was crucify him.
Like Pilate, when we face that same question we usually get plenty of advice from others. There are those who suggest we have nothing to do with Jesus. Just ignore him and he’ll go away, they say. Then there are those who are like the Jews and say get rid of him. If Christ causes you to cramp your style or prevents you from doing what you want, then you need to get rid of him.
Those temptations are always there. Those voices are calling to us as Jesus is on trial in our hearts and minds. What do we do when we hear those voices? Let me suggest that when you face those temptations think of the question; “What shall we do with Jesus?”
Think about who you are. The Bible tells us we are lost and condemned sinners. Our conscience confirms it. We are sinful from the time we are conceived. We are condemned to eternal death not only because of original sin our body and heart is infected with but also for the countless sins we commit each day in thought, word and deed. Who am I? Who are you? We are unworthy of even the least of God’s mercies. We deserve his anger and punishment.
As Jesus has stood on trial before us to be exalted or denied, to be crucified or glorified by our behavior, we have often listened to those who said, “Have nothing to do with him.” In reality you and I haven’t always given Jesus the place of honor in our hearts. We haven’t always glorified him with our lives. The question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” reminds us of who and what we are.
What shall we do with Jesus? Jesus! That’s the name given to God’s Son who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven to earth and became man.
Jesus Savior. That’s the name given to Mary’s miracle baby because he had come to save his people from their sins. Just look at Jesus. He stands before Pilate, an innocent man. Judas testified to it and so did Pilate’s wife. The false witnesses they hired, testified to it. Jesus was innocent. He had done nothing to deserve death. Jesus had obeyed the Law perfectly, not for himself, but for you and me so that by his obedience we can be declared righteous in God’s sight.
Yes, Jesus is innocent. He innocent in that he committed no sin but he is guilty of our sins. He is guilty of the sins of all people of all time because God made him who had no sin to be sin for us. Because of those sins he stands condemned in Pilate’s courtroom as well as in God’s. He is guilty in our place as he carries our sins so we who deserve eternal punishment can be free and live eternally.
Look at Jesus. He wears a shameful robe so we can be covered with the robe of his righteousness. He wears a crown of thorns so we can wear the crown of life. He bears the mockery of fools so we can hear the invitation; “Come in and share your Masters happiness.” He’s put to shame so we can be glorified. So what do we do with Jesus? We love him, honor him and exalt him.
When we wake up in the morning we face the question; “What shall I do with Jesus today, live for him or deny him? Let’s answer with the apostle Paul; “I consider all things rubbish, that I might gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ.” (Phil. 3:8,9)
When Jesus stands on trial before us and the question is; “Shall I crucify him again with an ungodly life or glorify him with my life?” let’s answer with Paul; “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal, 2:20)
When the question is, “What shall I do with Jesus in the goals I set in my life, do I live for this life or the life to come?” again, let’s answer with Paul. “Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Some trials never seem to end. Jesus’ trial is like that. He still stands on trial each and every day in our thoughts, words and deeds as well as in our decisions and desires. How will we answer the question, “What shall I do with Jesus? As we answer that question we need to remember that the answers we give to that question today will determine the answer to the question that will be asked on the last day. “What will Jesus do with me?” Amen.
5th Wednesday of Lent 16 INI Matthew27:22
Some trials never seem to end. Just when you think they’re over, new evidence is introduced or new witnesses are called and the trial keeps on going. So sometimes it does seem like some trials never end.
The truth is there is one that never really ended. That’s the trial of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now perhaps you’re thinking, wait a minute pastor, that trial ended 2000 years ago when Pilate washed his hands and said; “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility.” Matthew 27:24)
When Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified it looked like the trial was over. In a sense it was over. Jesus’ trial before Pilate ended the morning of that 1st Good Friday.
However, in another sense the trial of Jesus goes on every day in the life of everyone who knows Jesus or confronts him in their life. Each day the trial continues as each of us face the question Pilate asked; “What shall I do with Jesus?” Every single day you and I face that question and the trial of Jesus continues as he is either crucified or glorified, as he is either exalted in our lives our shoved out of our lives.
So tonight we’re going to take a look at this question, this question that causes the trial of Jesus to continue to this very day in the lives of those who meet him,
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH JESUS?
You and I need an answer to that question. Praise God Jesus gives us the answer.
No one really wanted anything to do with Jesus after he was arrested in Gethsemane. First there was Simon Peter who swore he didn’t know this man called Jesus. He even called down curses on himself in his attempt to convince people that he had nothing to do with this man called Jesus.
Then there was Annas who hustled Jesus off to Caiaphas. And Caiaphas, after a hasty, mockery of a trial, unloaded the problem of what to do with Jesus onto Pilate. Pilate didn’t want the problem of what to do with Jesus so he sent him off to King Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. Herod was happy to see Jesus but he didn’t really want the problem of what to do with him, so he sent him back to Pilate.
Pilate, of course, still didn’t want the problem of what to do with Jesus. He knew that Jesus was guilty of nothing more than making the Jews envious of his popularity. He had really done nothing wrong. So Pilate, trying to dodge the problem of what to do with Jesus, tried to pawn the decision off on the Jews. He gave them a choice between a criminal named Barabbas and Jesus. He figured that way he wouldn’t have to decide what to do with Jesus.
But, that failed too. Contrary to what he expected, the Jews chose Barabbas to be free instead of Jesus. That meant that Pilate still had a problem, what to do with Jesus. Pilate knew the right thing to do but the problem was he didn’t have the courage to do it. So he said; “What then, shall I do with Jesus?” That’s a question you and I still face today.
Each and every day of our lives, every time we make judgments about values, each time we set priorities in our lives, each time we decide what’s important in our lives, we are faced with the question, “What shall I do with Jesus?”
Do you realize that every decision you make, every thought you have, every word you speak and every action you take is an answer to that question? The question isn’t, “What have I done with Jesus in the past?” It’s not; “What do I plan to do with Jesus in the future?” No, the question is, “What shall I do with Jesus now, at the present moment?”
It a question you face from the time you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night. It’s a question you face from the time you come into this world until the time you leave this world. Jesus is on trial in our hearts each and every day as the Lord invites us to live our lives for him and as Satan encourages us to live our lives for him.
Jesus is on trial as you set goals and make plans for your life. Our sinful flesh looks only to this world. It wants to lay up treasures for this world only. It wants to make that the focus of our lives. The Spirit says; “Lay up treasures in heaven, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, trust that the Lord will take care of the rest.” Sinful man answers, “I can’t do that!” Jesus is on trial and we face the question, “What shall we do with Jesus?”
So yes, some trials never end. The trial of Jesus is like that. Just as he stood before Pilate and Pilate was faced with the question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” so also Jesus is still on trial in our hearts and lives today. So what’s the answer to the question; “What shall we do with Jesus?”
The answer to the question (2). Pilate didn’t want anything to do with Jesus. He would have ignored the whole question if he could have. If possible, he would have pawned the problem of what to do with Jesus on someone else. But this was a question he couldn’t escape.
It’s a question you and I cannot escape either. It’s a question each of us must answer for ourselves. Pilate asked the question correctly; “What shall I do with Jesus?” Jesus was on trial before him. So it was up to Pilate to decide what to do with Jesus. No one could make the decision for him.
Pilate’s wife had a dream about Jesus. She was convinced he was innocent. That’s why she told him not to have anything to do with that innocent man. Of course, that’s really what Pilate wanted all along. That’s why he was trying to hand the problem of what to do with Jesus to someone else. But he couldn’t get away with doing nothing to Jesus. So there Pilate stood and there were the Jews. So then he asked what he should do with Jesus. The answer they gave was crucify him.
Like Pilate, when we face that same question we usually get plenty of advice from others. There are those who suggest we have nothing to do with Jesus. Just ignore him and he’ll go away, they say. Then there are those who are like the Jews and say get rid of him. If Christ causes you to cramp your style or prevents you from doing what you want, then you need to get rid of him.
Those temptations are always there. Those voices are calling to us as Jesus is on trial in our hearts and minds. What do we do when we hear those voices? Let me suggest that when you face those temptations think of the question; “What shall we do with Jesus?”
Think about who you are. The Bible tells us we are lost and condemned sinners. Our conscience confirms it. We are sinful from the time we are conceived. We are condemned to eternal death not only because of original sin our body and heart is infected with but also for the countless sins we commit each day in thought, word and deed. Who am I? Who are you? We are unworthy of even the least of God’s mercies. We deserve his anger and punishment.
As Jesus has stood on trial before us to be exalted or denied, to be crucified or glorified by our behavior, we have often listened to those who said, “Have nothing to do with him.” In reality you and I haven’t always given Jesus the place of honor in our hearts. We haven’t always glorified him with our lives. The question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” reminds us of who and what we are.
What shall we do with Jesus? Jesus! That’s the name given to God’s Son who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven to earth and became man.
Jesus Savior. That’s the name given to Mary’s miracle baby because he had come to save his people from their sins. Just look at Jesus. He stands before Pilate, an innocent man. Judas testified to it and so did Pilate’s wife. The false witnesses they hired, testified to it. Jesus was innocent. He had done nothing to deserve death. Jesus had obeyed the Law perfectly, not for himself, but for you and me so that by his obedience we can be declared righteous in God’s sight.
Yes, Jesus is innocent. He innocent in that he committed no sin but he is guilty of our sins. He is guilty of the sins of all people of all time because God made him who had no sin to be sin for us. Because of those sins he stands condemned in Pilate’s courtroom as well as in God’s. He is guilty in our place as he carries our sins so we who deserve eternal punishment can be free and live eternally.
Look at Jesus. He wears a shameful robe so we can be covered with the robe of his righteousness. He wears a crown of thorns so we can wear the crown of life. He bears the mockery of fools so we can hear the invitation; “Come in and share your Masters happiness.” He’s put to shame so we can be glorified. So what do we do with Jesus? We love him, honor him and exalt him.
When we wake up in the morning we face the question; “What shall I do with Jesus today, live for him or deny him? Let’s answer with the apostle Paul; “I consider all things rubbish, that I might gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ.” (Phil. 3:8,9)
When Jesus stands on trial before us and the question is; “Shall I crucify him again with an ungodly life or glorify him with my life?” let’s answer with Paul; “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal, 2:20)
When the question is, “What shall I do with Jesus in the goals I set in my life, do I live for this life or the life to come?” again, let’s answer with Paul. “Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Some trials never seem to end. Jesus’ trial is like that. He still stands on trial each and every day in our thoughts, words and deeds as well as in our decisions and desires. How will we answer the question, “What shall I do with Jesus? As we answer that question we need to remember that the answers we give to that question today will determine the answer to the question that will be asked on the last day. “What will Jesus do with me?” Amen.
5th Wednesday of Lent 16 INI Matthew27:22
Some trials never seem to end. Just when you think they’re over, new evidence is introduced or new witnesses are called and the trial keeps on going. So sometimes it does seem like some trials never end.
The truth is there is one that never really ended. That’s the trial of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now perhaps you’re thinking, wait a minute pastor, that trial ended 2000 years ago when Pilate washed his hands and said; “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility.” Matthew 27:24)
When Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified it looked like the trial was over. In a sense it was over. Jesus’ trial before Pilate ended the morning of that 1st Good Friday.
However, in another sense the trial of Jesus goes on every day in the life of everyone who knows Jesus or confronts him in their life. Each day the trial continues as each of us face the question Pilate asked; “What shall I do with Jesus?” Every single day you and I face that question and the trial of Jesus continues as he is either crucified or glorified, as he is either exalted in our lives our shoved out of our lives.
So tonight we’re going to take a look at this question, this question that causes the trial of Jesus to continue to this very day in the lives of those who meet him,
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH JESUS?
You and I need an answer to that question. Praise God Jesus gives us the answer.
No one really wanted anything to do with Jesus after he was arrested in Gethsemane. First there was Simon Peter who swore he didn’t know this man called Jesus. He even called down curses on himself in his attempt to convince people that he had nothing to do with this man called Jesus.
Then there was Annas who hustled Jesus off to Caiaphas. And Caiaphas, after a hasty, mockery of a trial, unloaded the problem of what to do with Jesus onto Pilate. Pilate didn’t want the problem of what to do with Jesus so he sent him off to King Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. Herod was happy to see Jesus but he didn’t really want the problem of what to do with him, so he sent him back to Pilate.
Pilate, of course, still didn’t want the problem of what to do with Jesus. He knew that Jesus was guilty of nothing more than making the Jews envious of his popularity. He had really done nothing wrong. So Pilate, trying to dodge the problem of what to do with Jesus, tried to pawn the decision off on the Jews. He gave them a choice between a criminal named Barabbas and Jesus. He figured that way he wouldn’t have to decide what to do with Jesus.
But, that failed too. Contrary to what he expected, the Jews chose Barabbas to be free instead of Jesus. That meant that Pilate still had a problem, what to do with Jesus. Pilate knew the right thing to do but the problem was he didn’t have the courage to do it. So he said; “What then, shall I do with Jesus?” That’s a question you and I still face today.
Each and every day of our lives, every time we make judgments about values, each time we set priorities in our lives, each time we decide what’s important in our lives, we are faced with the question, “What shall I do with Jesus?”
Do you realize that every decision you make, every thought you have, every word you speak and every action you take is an answer to that question? The question isn’t, “What have I done with Jesus in the past?” It’s not; “What do I plan to do with Jesus in the future?” No, the question is, “What shall I do with Jesus now, at the present moment?”
It a question you face from the time you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night. It’s a question you face from the time you come into this world until the time you leave this world. Jesus is on trial in our hearts each and every day as the Lord invites us to live our lives for him and as Satan encourages us to live our lives for him.
Jesus is on trial as you set goals and make plans for your life. Our sinful flesh looks only to this world. It wants to lay up treasures for this world only. It wants to make that the focus of our lives. The Spirit says; “Lay up treasures in heaven, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, trust that the Lord will take care of the rest.” Sinful man answers, “I can’t do that!” Jesus is on trial and we face the question, “What shall we do with Jesus?”
So yes, some trials never end. The trial of Jesus is like that. Just as he stood before Pilate and Pilate was faced with the question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” so also Jesus is still on trial in our hearts and lives today. So what’s the answer to the question; “What shall we do with Jesus?”
The answer to the question (2). Pilate didn’t want anything to do with Jesus. He would have ignored the whole question if he could have. If possible, he would have pawned the problem of what to do with Jesus on someone else. But this was a question he couldn’t escape.
It’s a question you and I cannot escape either. It’s a question each of us must answer for ourselves. Pilate asked the question correctly; “What shall I do with Jesus?” Jesus was on trial before him. So it was up to Pilate to decide what to do with Jesus. No one could make the decision for him.
Pilate’s wife had a dream about Jesus. She was convinced he was innocent. That’s why she told him not to have anything to do with that innocent man. Of course, that’s really what Pilate wanted all along. That’s why he was trying to hand the problem of what to do with Jesus to someone else. But he couldn’t get away with doing nothing to Jesus. So there Pilate stood and there were the Jews. So then he asked what he should do with Jesus. The answer they gave was crucify him.
Like Pilate, when we face that same question we usually get plenty of advice from others. There are those who suggest we have nothing to do with Jesus. Just ignore him and he’ll go away, they say. Then there are those who are like the Jews and say get rid of him. If Christ causes you to cramp your style or prevents you from doing what you want, then you need to get rid of him.
Those temptations are always there. Those voices are calling to us as Jesus is on trial in our hearts and minds. What do we do when we hear those voices? Let me suggest that when you face those temptations think of the question; “What shall we do with Jesus?”
Think about who you are. The Bible tells us we are lost and condemned sinners. Our conscience confirms it. We are sinful from the time we are conceived. We are condemned to eternal death not only because of original sin our body and heart is infected with but also for the countless sins we commit each day in thought, word and deed. Who am I? Who are you? We are unworthy of even the least of God’s mercies. We deserve his anger and punishment.
As Jesus has stood on trial before us to be exalted or denied, to be crucified or glorified by our behavior, we have often listened to those who said, “Have nothing to do with him.” In reality you and I haven’t always given Jesus the place of honor in our hearts. We haven’t always glorified him with our lives. The question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” reminds us of who and what we are.
What shall we do with Jesus? Jesus! That’s the name given to God’s Son who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven to earth and became man.
Jesus Savior. That’s the name given to Mary’s miracle baby because he had come to save his people from their sins. Just look at Jesus. He stands before Pilate, an innocent man. Judas testified to it and so did Pilate’s wife. The false witnesses they hired, testified to it. Jesus was innocent. He had done nothing to deserve death. Jesus had obeyed the Law perfectly, not for himself, but for you and me so that by his obedience we can be declared righteous in God’s sight.
Yes, Jesus is innocent. He innocent in that he committed no sin but he is guilty of our sins. He is guilty of the sins of all people of all time because God made him who had no sin to be sin for us. Because of those sins he stands condemned in Pilate’s courtroom as well as in God’s. He is guilty in our place as he carries our sins so we who deserve eternal punishment can be free and live eternally.
Look at Jesus. He wears a shameful robe so we can be covered with the robe of his righteousness. He wears a crown of thorns so we can wear the crown of life. He bears the mockery of fools so we can hear the invitation; “Come in and share your Masters happiness.” He’s put to shame so we can be glorified. So what do we do with Jesus? We love him, honor him and exalt him.
When we wake up in the morning we face the question; “What shall I do with Jesus today, live for him or deny him? Let’s answer with the apostle Paul; “I consider all things rubbish, that I might gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ.” (Phil. 3:8,9)
When Jesus stands on trial before us and the question is; “Shall I crucify him again with an ungodly life or glorify him with my life?” let’s answer with Paul; “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal, 2:20)
When the question is, “What shall I do with Jesus in the goals I set in my life, do I live for this life or the life to come?” again, let’s answer with Paul. “Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Some trials never seem to end. Jesus’ trial is like that. He still stands on trial each and every day in our thoughts, words and deeds as well as in our decisions and desires. How will we answer the question, “What shall I do with Jesus? As we answer that question we need to remember that the answers we give to that question today will determine the answer to the question that will be asked on the last day. “What will Jesus do with me?” Amen.
5th Wednesday of Lent 16 INI Matthew27:22
Some trials never seem to end. Just when you think they’re over, new evidence is introduced or new witnesses are called and the trial keeps on going. So sometimes it does seem like some trials never end.
The truth is there is one that never really ended. That’s the trial of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now perhaps you’re thinking, wait a minute pastor, that trial ended 2000 years ago when Pilate washed his hands and said; “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility.” Matthew 27:24)
When Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified it looked like the trial was over. In a sense it was over. Jesus’ trial before Pilate ended the morning of that 1st Good Friday.
However, in another sense the trial of Jesus goes on every day in the life of everyone who knows Jesus or confronts him in their life. Each day the trial continues as each of us face the question Pilate asked; “What shall I do with Jesus?” Every single day you and I face that question and the trial of Jesus continues as he is either crucified or glorified, as he is either exalted in our lives our shoved out of our lives.
So tonight we’re going to take a look at this question, this question that causes the trial of Jesus to continue to this very day in the lives of those who meet him,
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH JESUS?
You and I need an answer to that question. Praise God Jesus gives us the answer.
No one really wanted anything to do with Jesus after he was arrested in Gethsemane. First there was Simon Peter who swore he didn’t know this man called Jesus. He even called down curses on himself in his attempt to convince people that he had nothing to do with this man called Jesus.
Then there was Annas who hustled Jesus off to Caiaphas. And Caiaphas, after a hasty, mockery of a trial, unloaded the problem of what to do with Jesus onto Pilate. Pilate didn’t want the problem of what to do with Jesus so he sent him off to King Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. Herod was happy to see Jesus but he didn’t really want the problem of what to do with him, so he sent him back to Pilate.
Pilate, of course, still didn’t want the problem of what to do with Jesus. He knew that Jesus was guilty of nothing more than making the Jews envious of his popularity. He had really done nothing wrong. So Pilate, trying to dodge the problem of what to do with Jesus, tried to pawn the decision off on the Jews. He gave them a choice between a criminal named Barabbas and Jesus. He figured that way he wouldn’t have to decide what to do with Jesus.
But, that failed too. Contrary to what he expected, the Jews chose Barabbas to be free instead of Jesus. That meant that Pilate still had a problem, what to do with Jesus. Pilate knew the right thing to do but the problem was he didn’t have the courage to do it. So he said; “What then, shall I do with Jesus?” That’s a question you and I still face today.
Each and every day of our lives, every time we make judgments about values, each time we set priorities in our lives, each time we decide what’s important in our lives, we are faced with the question, “What shall I do with Jesus?”
Do you realize that every decision you make, every thought you have, every word you speak and every action you take is an answer to that question? The question isn’t, “What have I done with Jesus in the past?” It’s not; “What do I plan to do with Jesus in the future?” No, the question is, “What shall I do with Jesus now, at the present moment?”
It a question you face from the time you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night. It’s a question you face from the time you come into this world until the time you leave this world. Jesus is on trial in our hearts each and every day as the Lord invites us to live our lives for him and as Satan encourages us to live our lives for him.
Jesus is on trial as you set goals and make plans for your life. Our sinful flesh looks only to this world. It wants to lay up treasures for this world only. It wants to make that the focus of our lives. The Spirit says; “Lay up treasures in heaven, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, trust that the Lord will take care of the rest.” Sinful man answers, “I can’t do that!” Jesus is on trial and we face the question, “What shall we do with Jesus?”
So yes, some trials never end. The trial of Jesus is like that. Just as he stood before Pilate and Pilate was faced with the question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” so also Jesus is still on trial in our hearts and lives today. So what’s the answer to the question; “What shall we do with Jesus?”
The answer to the question (2). Pilate didn’t want anything to do with Jesus. He would have ignored the whole question if he could have. If possible, he would have pawned the problem of what to do with Jesus on someone else. But this was a question he couldn’t escape.
It’s a question you and I cannot escape either. It’s a question each of us must answer for ourselves. Pilate asked the question correctly; “What shall I do with Jesus?” Jesus was on trial before him. So it was up to Pilate to decide what to do with Jesus. No one could make the decision for him.
Pilate’s wife had a dream about Jesus. She was convinced he was innocent. That’s why she told him not to have anything to do with that innocent man. Of course, that’s really what Pilate wanted all along. That’s why he was trying to hand the problem of what to do with Jesus to someone else. But he couldn’t get away with doing nothing to Jesus. So there Pilate stood and there were the Jews. So then he asked what he should do with Jesus. The answer they gave was crucify him.
Like Pilate, when we face that same question we usually get plenty of advice from others. There are those who suggest we have nothing to do with Jesus. Just ignore him and he’ll go away, they say. Then there are those who are like the Jews and say get rid of him. If Christ causes you to cramp your style or prevents you from doing what you want, then you need to get rid of him.
Those temptations are always there. Those voices are calling to us as Jesus is on trial in our hearts and minds. What do we do when we hear those voices? Let me suggest that when you face those temptations think of the question; “What shall we do with Jesus?”
Think about who you are. The Bible tells us we are lost and condemned sinners. Our conscience confirms it. We are sinful from the time we are conceived. We are condemned to eternal death not only because of original sin our body and heart is infected with but also for the countless sins we commit each day in thought, word and deed. Who am I? Who are you? We are unworthy of even the least of God’s mercies. We deserve his anger and punishment.
As Jesus has stood on trial before us to be exalted or denied, to be crucified or glorified by our behavior, we have often listened to those who said, “Have nothing to do with him.” In reality you and I haven’t always given Jesus the place of honor in our hearts. We haven’t always glorified him with our lives. The question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” reminds us of who and what we are.
What shall we do with Jesus? Jesus! That’s the name given to God’s Son who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven to earth and became man.
Jesus Savior. That’s the name given to Mary’s miracle baby because he had come to save his people from their sins. Just look at Jesus. He stands before Pilate, an innocent man. Judas testified to it and so did Pilate’s wife. The false witnesses they hired, testified to it. Jesus was innocent. He had done nothing to deserve death. Jesus had obeyed the Law perfectly, not for himself, but for you and me so that by his obedience we can be declared righteous in God’s sight.
Yes, Jesus is innocent. He innocent in that he committed no sin but he is guilty of our sins. He is guilty of the sins of all people of all time because God made him who had no sin to be sin for us. Because of those sins he stands condemned in Pilate’s courtroom as well as in God’s. He is guilty in our place as he carries our sins so we who deserve eternal punishment can be free and live eternally.
Look at Jesus. He wears a shameful robe so we can be covered with the robe of his righteousness. He wears a crown of thorns so we can wear the crown of life. He bears the mockery of fools so we can hear the invitation; “Come in and share your Masters happiness.” He’s put to shame so we can be glorified. So what do we do with Jesus? We love him, honor him and exalt him.
When we wake up in the morning we face the question; “What shall I do with Jesus today, live for him or deny him? Let’s answer with the apostle Paul; “I consider all things rubbish, that I might gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ.” (Phil. 3:8,9)
When Jesus stands on trial before us and the question is; “Shall I crucify him again with an ungodly life or glorify him with my life?” let’s answer with Paul; “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal, 2:20)
When the question is, “What shall I do with Jesus in the goals I set in my life, do I live for this life or the life to come?” again, let’s answer with Paul. “Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Some trials never seem to end. Jesus’ trial is like that. He still stands on trial each and every day in our thoughts, words and deeds as well as in our decisions and desires. How will we answer the question, “What shall I do with Jesus? As we answer that question we need to remember that the answers we give to that question today will determine the answer to the question that will be asked on the last day. “What will Jesus do with me?” Amen.
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