What Shall I Do With Jesus Who Is Called Christ? One of the most important questions we will ever face.

Introduction Pontus Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea when Jesus was judged worthy of death and sentenced to die on the cruel cross.  And Pilate had to make a decision concerning Jesus.  So rather than make his own decision, he asked the peopled this question.

There is no greater question that can be asked of and by any man today!  It is a personal, present day, inescapable, and unavoidable question: "What Will I Do With Jesus?"

Every living soul has to answer that question.  You will either accept Him or reject Him, crown Him or crucify Him; but you will do something with Jesus.  As Jesus was before Pilate; so Jesus is now before you!  

Remember this: Pilate had Jesus in his hands, but now Pilate is in the hands of Jesus.  Pilate judged Jesus, but one day Jesus will judge Pilate.  There were some voices that confronted Pilate when Jesus was judged that fateful day. Yet Pilate failed to listen to those voices. We find people today who do the same thing.  

Pilate Did Not Listen To The Voice Of Reason Pilate was no fool.  You don't become Roman governor by being a fool.  He knew men.  And Matthew 27:18 says, "For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy."    

Pilate reasoned why the Jews delivered Jesus.  It was reason that first confronted Pilate.  What does reason tell us about Jesus?  Reason tells us He is the Christ, the "Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24). 

Reason tells us to follow Him because He is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).   It was the voice of reason that Nicodemus said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him”. (John 3:2) It was the voice of reason that Paul used as he taught in the synagogue. Paul was reasoning from the scriptures everyday anywhere he found an audience to listen (Acts 17:17)

Pilate Did Not Listen To The Voice Of His Loved One The next voice that confronted Pilate was that of his own wife.  She warned him!  While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” (Matthew 27: 19) 

There have been many loved ones who have prayed for family members; begging them to come to Jesus (AND TO REMAIN FAITHFUL). There are many loved ones who have passed on and want their family members to avoid the horrible place called hell and torment (Luke 16:27-28).  God sent a warning to Pilate's wife in a dream, just as He warned Joseph (Matthew 2:22) and the magi (Matthew 2:12) in dreams.   God is warning us today through His Holy Word about death (Hebrews 9:27-28) and the coming judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10).  The Bible is warning us!

Pilate Did Not Listen To His Own Voice The crowds and the Jews were crying out for the blood of Jesus.  They wanted Him dead. “Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” (Matthew 27: 23-24)  

In washing his hands, Pilate was trying to wash his heart (a. k. a In washing his hands, Pilate was trying to wash his heart (a.k.a. his conscience).  He felt dirty.  His own conscience was telling him that Jesus was innocent.  What does your conscience tell you about getting right with Jesus?

Not only did he wash his hands, he tried to push Jesus off onto Herod; for he heard that Jesus was a Galilean (Luke 23:6-7) and belonged to Herod's jurisdiction.  He thought that he would rid himself of Jesus.  However, Herod sent Him right back and Pilate once again had Jesus before Him.  What was he to do?

Pilate Did Not Listen To The Voice Of Jesus The greatest voice that confronted Pilate was that of Jesus!  In John 18:37, Pilate asked Jesus if He was a King.  Jesus said, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

The voice of the Lord speaks loud and clear through the Bible (Hebrews 1:1-2).  "The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty" (Psalm 29:4).  Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live" (John 5:25).  In the last book of the Bible, Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20).

Pilate spoke directly to Jesus!  He heard the voice of the Son of God.  And even though he heard the voice of reason, the voice of a loved one, the voice of his own conscience, and Jesus' voice; Ultimately it was another voice that prevailed.

Pilate Did Listen To The Voice Of Public Opinion It was this voice that doomed Pilate; the voice of the crowds.  "But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus" (Matthew 27:20).  "So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified" (Mark 15:15).  

 Although Pilate found no fault in Jesus; the verdict that ultimately condemned him and sealed his fate forever stemmed from the question: "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  Pilate caved into the pressuring voices of this world.  Let's not make the same mistake.

Conclusion As Jesus was in Pilate's hands; He is now in your hands! What will you do with Jesus?  Listen to the voice of reason, the voice of loved ones, the voice of your own conscience, and especially listen to the voice of Jesus! And do not wash your hands of Him who will be your judge in the end.