“What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Matthew 27:22 NKJV
The Question
The question asked by Pilate to the crowd is chilling.
He knows that Christ is innocent.
His wife begs him to have nothing to do with Jesus, or against Him. She has had a disturbing dream about Him.
Pilate is standing there before the crowd.
It was tradition at the feast to release a prisoner.
The chief priests and elders had persuaded the crowd that they should ask for Barabbas, a hardened criminal, and kill Jesus.
It was Pilate who asked the multitude who they wanted him to release.
They shouted, “Barabbas!”
Pilate asks,”What then shall I do with Jesus Who is called Christ?”
I have always read this part of the sentence quickly.
We know the rest. The crowd roars, “Crucify!”
Our hearts shatter within us.
Yet, let us back up just a moment at this reading.
Pilate asks, “What then shall I do with Jesus?”
Have you asked that question of yourself?
What are you REALLY going to do with Jesus?
Do you believe the overwhelming evidence that He IS the Son of God?
Did you ask Him into your heart and life?
Have you asked God to forgive you of your sins through the death of His Son on the cross?
Have you promised to obey and follow and serve Christ all the days of your life?
Are you putting Him first in all of your decisions and lifestyle choices all the rest of your life?
Will everything else in your life forever after change and be dedicated only to Christ?
Do you feel now that nothing at all in the universe is more important than pleasing God?
Will you give all of your life to living for Him?
What, indeed, will YOU do with Jesus?
Pilate had Him killed.
Only He likely didn’t think of it that way.
Perhaps, you know the way we humans justify and pass the buck.
It was the crowd who wanted Him dead, he maybe later told his wife.
It wasn’t really me.
I even washed my hands of Him.
It was a choice, you told yourself. It wasn’t a baby.
You lie, “It wasn’t my sin.”
Pilate perhaps spent the rest of his days telling himself one such lie or another.
I can live with my decision, he said, you said, we all said at some time or another.
The choice never goes away about Jesus, about doing what is right, about choosing God’s way.
It is always before us.
For now and for all eternity, what will YOU DO with all of your moral choices?
What will you do with God’s Law and your tomorrows?
What will YOU DO with JESUS?