What Will You Do With Jesus?

Introduction

Good morning. I’d like to wish everyone a pleasant good morning and first Lord’s Day of this new year. Which wouldn’t it be what wouldn’t we do well to say that this is the Lord’s year? This is the Lord’s time for us to serve him with, as long or as little as he provides us with. I’d like to direct your attention to the Bulletin article this morning, and in it, including on the very cover, I want to go over a portion of an article from Gary Kerr in an article from Biblical Insights. Reading the beginning next to the hourglass picture, says, I stumbled across the following information while trolling the internet recently. In a lifetime, the average North American will spend six months sitting at stoplights. I was right, those are frustrating.

Eight months opening junk mail, one year looking for misplaced objects, two years unsuccessfully returning phone calls, five years waiting in line, six years eating, twenty-one years watching television. As he says, I cannot vouch for the validity of those statistics, but I know it is true that we waste a lot of time in our lives. And I think of the quote from Michael Altschuler, which goes something like the bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot. As we go into this new year, we should think about what it means to be a pilot. And what it means to control God’s time. A lot of what we do sometimes as we think about New Year’s resolutions, we think, how am I going to make myself better?

How can I be a better person? How can I look better? How can I feel better? How can I do things better? And those are certainly good things. Those are not wrong to do, but we would do well to consider what does God want me to do? What does God want me to look like, to live like? How can I better be conformed to the image that God wishes me to match? If you look with me in Matthew chapter 27, I want to go over a question that was faced with a Bible character that many of us know, and yet, frankly, when you compare it to the rest of Scriptures, he’s in a relatively small amount of them. In Matthew chapter 27, beginning in verse 11.

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus said, You have said so. But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, and by the way, that character I was referring to is not Jesus, it is Pilate. Then Bilate said to him, Do you not hear how many things they testify against you? But he gave them no answer, not even to a single charge. So that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas?

Or Jesus, who is called Christ? For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, have nothing to do with that righteous man. For I have suffered much because of him today in a dream. Now the chief priest and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, Which of the two do you want me to release for you? And they said, Barabbas. But note with me, verse 22. Pilate said to them, Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? They all said, Let him be crucified. And he said, Why? What evil has he done?

But they shouted all the more, let him be crucified. So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves. And all the people answered, His blood be on us and our children. Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. And what we have here is a chilling story of a man who is faced with the very question that he authored in verse 23, excuse me, verse 22, when he says, What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? And we know what Pilate did, which is he cave to the pressure.

And we’re going to read another account in the book of Luke on how specifically Luke tried, or excuse me, Pilate tried to dodge this responsibility of making this very determination. This is what Pilate’s job was, to determine the guilt and the sentence, if any, of what Jesus should pay. And of course we find that Pilate says, What evil has he done? We see that the vain notion that he would wash his hands and say, I am innocent. You see to it yourselves. And we think, that foolish man, Pilate, how did you not see? What have you done with Jesus? But we face that same decision, both in a new year and in every single day, every single new moment in which we are blessed to live.

1. Pilate Said, I Find No Guilt in This Man

And I want us to consider what will I do with Jesus? But first I want to go back to Pilate and to do that. Look with me now in Luke chapter 23. I want to note a couple things that Pilate did with Jesus and see if maybe this man who we think really messed up is a little similar to us. In Luke chapter 23, you’re going to notice some similarities between this text and our text in Matthew. But note with me, beginning in verse 3. And Pilate asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? And he answered him, You have said so. Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, I find no guilt in this man. I want you to write that down.

That is number one. Pilate said, I find no guilt in this man. Can I ask you, what is the sentence for being guiltless? Nothing. When you are not guilty, you are not punished. That is how the law should be. But keep in mind, that’s how it should be. Moving forward to verse 5. But they were urgent, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea from Galilee, even to this place. Now now Pilate gets smart. Now watch this, beginning in verse 6. When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad.

For he had long desired to see him because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him, then arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. Now note verse 13. Excuse me, verse 12. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day. For before this they had been at enmity with each other. Do you see how shrewd Pilate is there? Not only did he first and foremost think, how can I get out of this? He thinks Jesus is a Galilean.

This doesn’t have to be my problem at all. I don’t even have to symbolically wash my hands of this. I can send him to somebody else. His solution to seeing Jesus, knowing he was guiltless, was I don’t want to deal with it. This is somebody else’s problem. And note verse 30, excuse me, verse 12. I’ll keep calling it 13 until the day’s done, apparently. In verse 12, he was enemies with Pilate. He was at enmity with Herod, excuse me, at that time. And we think, well, did something good come from that? Well, certainly it did. In verse 12, we find that they became friends that very day. Pilate had political motivations, as well as his standard ones. Now note with me in verse 13, and I want to key in on verses 13 through 16.

Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people and said to them, You brought me this man as one who is misleading the people. And after examining before you, behold, note this, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. Do you get the picture that Jesus was innocent? He should be let go, Jesus should be freed. And then look in verse 16, we find out that I will therefore punish and release him. What an odd place to find a punishment to be delivered, is it not? Can you imagine if you were before a judge and you were being tried with a crime, and he said, You are innocent, but first I will punish you, and then you will be released.

How well would that sit with you or your attorney? Not very well. So why could this man Pilate not acknowledge both Jesus’ guilt and practice a sentence deserving of his guiltlessness? Pilate didn’t have it in him to stand against those who were shouting louder than his conviction stood. Pilate was able, was allowing himself to be shouted down by the mass hysteria of the Jews. If you note in verse 6, excuse me, verse 18. But they all cried out together, away with this man and release to us Barabbas. And we remember from Matthew chapter 27 what happened. You may know from your previous studies what happened. Pilate again, trying to get out of dealing with the question of what will I do with this innocent man Jesus?

Tried to pwn it off on somebody else. Think about the story. Pilate found Jesus innocent. He was innocent. Pilate knew that he was innocent. And what did he do? He tried to send him to Herod first. Actually, first he tried to say he was innocent. Then he sent him to Herod. He said, I don’t want to deal with it. He gets sent back to him. Then he tells him he’s innocent. So he has him scourged. Why would an innocent man be scourged? It is injustice. It is cowardice. It is wrong. Pilate could not stand to live the effects of the truth. Note with me, it was not that Pilate did not know Jesus’ claims were true. It is not that Pilate thought that he was guilty.

He knew. He saw. He understood that Jesus was not guilty. And yet he punished him anyway. It’s easy to say, well, he dismissed it, or to say, well, people who don’t believe in Christ, they’re not going to obey him. But what about those of us who do? What about those of us who do know that Jesus is here? What will I do with him? Because that’s just not enough to say, well, other people don’t know him because I do. What will I do with the King of kings and the Lord of Lords? Will I serve him or will I serve myself instead? Pilate sought a way out of that question. He saw no way. He felt trapped, so he sent him to Herod. Then he tried to release a different person.

He thought, maybe I can satisfy them if I send this Barabbas out, this guilty man. Compared to the innocence of Jesus, maybe they will let him go. And of course, that did not happen. Of course, Pilate was stuck. He had a decision to make. What will I do with Jesus? I have to ask the question. Was Pilate confused? Did he not understand? Think to yourself, what was Pilate’s problem here? We find it in verse 15. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. So what does he do? He tries to compromise. He’s not deserving death. I know he’s innocent. He definitely doesn’t deserve death. But here’s what I’ll do. I’ll let him be scourged. At least he’s not killed.

2. What Have I Done With Jesus?

That would be the ultimate injustice, would it not? And then we come back to ourselves and we think, does a little bit of compromise of truth make it alright? Does me saying, well, I’ll only do this sometimes, or when I compare it to what could happen, what I could be like, what I could do, I’m great. Is that right? Certainly not. It didn’t work for Pilate, and it will not work for us in this year or in the days and years to come. So I want to consider with this morning, first of all, two questions. And one is the lesser important of the two, and that is what have I done with Jesus? If you know what that question is in past tense, I want you to consider perhaps even this past year.

Have I rejected him for any reason? But beginning with money, look with me in 1 Timothy chapter 6. Turn your Bibles with me to 1 Timothy chapter 6. If you’re turning on your devices, maybe you can turn up the sound so I can hear that you’re typing in 1 Timothy chapter 6. Beginning in verse 6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.

It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. And we close the book there and we say, Boy, am I glad I am not one of those greedy people. The Bible talks a lot about greed. Jesus speaks to a people who, compared to us, would have nothing. And he talks to them about greed, about wanting more. This is the love of money is the root of all these kinds of evils. And we have an embarrassment of riches, and we think, well, I’m not greedy because I don’t have enough to be greedy. I just work my job and try to get as much money as I can, and then I go home. Greed is not just about, greed is not just for the wealthy.

Greed is for everyone. Perhaps if you thinking to yourself, I don’t have enough money, perhaps you’re the biggest target of greed. Those who do not have, who think they should, or just wish, just wish that they did. If you note in 1 Timothy chapter 6 and verse 10, it’s the love of money. Why is that? Because money has become our God. Money becomes the driving force. And Jesus is removed from his rightful place as King in our lives. If we consider what have I done with Jesus this past year, how many times have I put work before God? Because I don’t know about you, but several people, probably, if I were to ask to raise your hands, would say, you work your jobs because of the paycheck.

I thought that was funny. Fine, you’re going to make me do it. Raise your hand if you work for the paycheck. If that is at least 80% of why you work at the job you do. I have several honest people here this morning. Have you ever tried to work an extra couple shifts to make some extra money? Of course. But do we allow jobs? Do we allow the pursuit of more to take us away from God? If it does, how can we justify that? When I think about my life and I say, what have I done with Jesus? Will I be found guilty of having rejected him for some pocket change? For some spending money? For a little bit of what I think will bring me security.

We have a God who will provide all of our needs. If we will seek him, we will trust him. Let us not be caught up with our jobs or anything that replaces God. But I want to consider also have I rejected him for the world? I want you to look at 1 John chapter 2. You know the passage, but I want to look at some specific wording of verse 15 and 17, as well as the famous verse 16. And verse 15, John writes, do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Did you get that? If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Do not love the world or the things in the world.

We have to be careful about that, brethren, don’t we? Loving the things of the world, getting too attached to them. Pull out that Bulletin article again. We’ll spend six months sitting at stoplights. I’m not quite sure that’s something that we love, but I’ll tell you what might be. Twenty-one years watching television. I wonder what that television program watch it is comprised of. Is it a bunch of sports? It would be if you looked at my television log. Is it a bunch of fashion shows? I don’t know what you watch. But chances are it’s not a whole lot of righteousness. Chances are the 21 years aren’t comprised simply of sermons teaching truth. It may be and good for you if that’s the way it is. But brothers and sisters, we need to make sure that we don’t get too attached to anything in this world.

Because anything in this world that is not of God or that leads us closer to God will pull us away from him. If we love God first, we will recognize that which is wrong. That’s why in Romans chapter 12 and verse 9 it makes sense. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Those are two necessary components. Let’s not cling to the good sometimes and abhor the evil when we disagree with it. Recognize sin and hate it. Understanding that God cannot be in the presence of it. And in verse 17, and the world is passing away along with its desires. But whoever does the will of God abides forever. And if there ever is a point to make on why verse 16 matters, for all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world.

It is verse 17. This stuff, as great as it may be, is going to leave you. It is going to stay when you go. That’s the way it is. We can go to God. We can be in the presence of God forever. When we consider what have I done with Jesus, we’re going to consider in a moment further. What will I do with Jesus? Realize. What I do with Jesus has my eternity on the line. What I do with my television set has that moment on the line. And that moment, if we choose poorly, may even put our eternity in jeopardy. Consider with me also, have I rejected him for temporary gain? You know the passage in Matthew chapter 6. We should store our treasures up in spiritual things.

We should put our treasures in heaven. We need to serve God. We understand what of temporary gain. But I want to talk about this idea of shame. Have I rejected him for shame? Look with me in Mark chapter 8. The Gospel of Mark, chapter 8, beginning in verse 34. Jesus says, I’m going to begin with his words, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

And you say, I am not ashamed, I am at church, I believe in Christ. But do you show that outside of this building?

I consider what I have done with Jesus, and we consider shame. I also want to consider the thought of where is Jesus with us? Where do we bring him? Do we bring him with him, with us to our jobs? Do we bring him with us into our homes? Into our marital relationship, into our parent-child relationship? Or do we leave him chained in the church building? Someone we come and visit, we read his words, we pray to him, we sing to him when we’re in here, but then when we leave, that’s goodbye for now. Jesus does not just belong in the church building, brothers and sisters. Being a Christian is a lifestyle. We have to follow after Christ, be a Christian. And we say all the time, we should be Christians only, but that means we have to be Christians.

Always. Only Christians, always Christians. This world is not worth it. This world is passing away. We need to know if I reject him because I’m ashamed or because it’s not worth it to me, I will be rejected. And the day of judgment. That is not worth it. And when we see in Revelation chapter 13, excuse me, in Revelation chapter 3 and verse 16, the church at Laodicea is condemned for being what? For being lukewarm. In fact, what is the vivid imagery that’s found in that letter in Revelation chapter 3? That they will be spewed from the mouth of God. That is strong. Why does God care so greatly about that? Just like with Pilate. These are people who knew. They knew Jesus. They knew what they ought to do.

3. What Will I Do With Jesus?

And they didn’t serve him. They didn’t treat him as they are. When we consider what have I done with Jesus, there’s plenty that can pull us away, but the most important question is what will I do with Jesus? And what I want to consider this morning is, will I study like the Bereans did? You know Acts chapter 17 and verse 11. Look there. If you haven’t ever underlined this in your book, underline it and write New Year’s resolution next to it. And Acts chapter 17 and verse 11. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica. They received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. What were they doing? They were examining what they were being taught.

They were searching it. Why? Because they knew it mattered. They knew that if these teachings were correct, if the scripture said it, it is true, it is to be done. And I think, what will I do with Jesus if I accept him as Lord? If I, like Pilate, can see him for what he should be. There’s no compromising. I will read his words, that John chapter 12 tells us will judge us in the last day. I will understand that he has the words of life. Jesus says in John chapter 14 and verse 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. So we better come through Jesus. That’s not just a slogan, it’s not just a catchphrase, it’s not just a verse.

It is a challenge to us to seek and to find the Son of God. I want to consider also, will I forgive like Stephen? If you look with me in Acts chapter 7. Acts chapter 7, beginning in verse 51, Stephen has preached this great sermon. And the people face the same decision we do with Jesus. We’re considering the question, what will I do with Jesus? It is inherent in that that we are presented with him, and we have a choice. Well, these people certainly were presented with truth. And he says in verse 51, You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. Oh, by the way, Stephen’s in front of a bunch of people who want him dead, essentially. As your fathers did, so do you.

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the righteous one, whom you have now betrayed and murdered. You who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it. The people were at a moment of decision with Stephen. Do we accept what he said? Do we understand that he’s speaking truth? Certainly we know the alternative. Look with me in verse 54. Now, when they heard these things, they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he full of the Holy Spirit gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, Behold, I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.

But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold the sin against them. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. We see in verse 54 that what these people did with truth is they ground their teeth and they grew enraged. That is their choice. That is our choice. That is our option. But that doesn’t make it the right choice. It doesn’t make it the correct choice.

And we may very well come against a bunch of people who don’t respond correctly to Jesus, who don’t accept him as Lord, who may even may even say he does not exist. But I’ve said this once, I’ll say it a million times. Just because someone doesn’t believe that God isn’t there does not make him any less powerful. We should serve God regardless of what other people are doing, but I want to take it a step further and see what Stephen did. He saw God. He worked towards it. He was unashamed to teach and to tell even the very people who he certainly could have known could put him to death. And he spoke truth. Because he did not reject Jesus for shame. He served Christ. He recognized that God and Christ were to be accepted and to be followed at all costs, even up to and including imitating Christ’s forgiveness.

As he’s being stoned, he’s asking for their forgiveness. I don’t know about everyone in here, but I can speak for myself that sometimes pride keeps us from God. It might not keep us from believing in him, but it sure may keep us from doing as he would have us to do. Stephen was so humble, so caring for others, that he not only avoided, at least as the scriptures record, offense to being stoned, not calling out his innocence, but he calls out for forgiveness to them. That is the perspective of someone who has accepted Jesus, who understands who he is, and lives as he would have us to be. I want to look at another point in Matthew chapter 6. Well, I pray like Jesus. You know though Jesus prays in Matthew chapter 6, it’s quite a bit different.

Then sometimes my prayers might sound, and maybe you’re in the same boat as I am. In Matthew chapter 6 and verse 9, Jesus says, Pray then like this. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Jesus’ prayer, although that is just an example prayer, it is a model of prayer as we might deem it. It’s an example of understanding who he’s speaking to and what matters. In our prayer life, and yes, that implies that we have one and are exercising that great gift that God has given us.

We need to recognize that God is our Father in heaven. God is to be praised. You read the Psalms, you can’t help but come away with an understanding and increased awe for God because the psalmist knew God, and they knew he was mighty and worthy to be praised. He wasn’t some wish-granting genie. He wasn’t some butler just waiting to come out to help us anytime we’re in a pinch. God is the heavenly Father. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth. We should pray like Jesus did, praying that his will will be done, that we will be forgiven even, and that we will forgive others. And that we will be not led into temptation but delivered from evil. That is the way to understand.

That is the way of a Christian. What will I do with Jesus? I should pray as he did. I want to look in Acts chapter 8 in the first four verses there. If you’ll turn with me there, that’ll be the last scripture that I’ll ask you to turn to this morning. Unless, of course, I change my mind. In Acts chapter 8, beginning in verse 1. And Saul approved of his execution, and there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church and entering house after house.

Now here’s the background. Do you want to know the context of what we’re about to read? This is Saul ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging people into prison. And verse 4, now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. What will I do with Jesus? Pilate was faced with the decision, what shall I do with Jesus? Pilate tried to pwn the responsibility off on someone else. He tried to offer an alternative. And in fact, at one point, he even tried to let Christ off. Jesus the Christ, the Savior. He tried to let him go while still being scourged, of course. But tried to keep him from death in that way. We realize what an injustice that was.

Conclusion

When we think about Pilate washing his hands with water before the people, you think, you fool. Can you not see? You have to respond. This is your job. This is your duty. And in Luke chapter 23, we see that he repeatedly says, Jesus is innocent, and yet the text says he punished him. We accept Jesus as Christ and then we ignore him. What will we do this year? What will we do with Jesus? Will you serve him or will you cower back and reject him? Or maybe even worse, try to sit on the sideline like Pilate did. Staying in your pew, worshiping in the church, and saying, I don’t do what those other people do. It is time to serve God today. To serve God, to pilot our life, to use our time to follow Jesus means to give up everything.

And that can be hard. I asked the question earlier. Did he think Pilate was confused? Did he not understand? No. Pilate understood exactly what was going on, but he did not think it was worth the cost. He considered that the mob before him, those who were yelling, those who are writing, those people should be placated. After all, it wasn’t worth his job. It wasn’t worth his uncomfortableness. And perhaps even he was thinking, this isn’t fair. I’ve worked in my job. I’ve done what I can do. Why is this happening to me? I’ll just let this one go. Just this one time. And isn’t that how Satan gets us? With just that one time. Just wait a little bit longer. Just don’t pray a little bit longer.

If you’re here this morning, recognize that Jesus is willing. Jesus is waiting. Jesus has been crucified on the cross for your sins and my sins so that we can come to him. God desires that all be saved. If we will come to him, he is ready to save us. In Luke chapter 15, we know that the angels in heaven will rejoice with just one soul restored, with just one soul saved. But to do that, we do have to count the cost and realize that just like foolish Pilate missed, Jesus is worth everything. Our jobs, our life, and our comfort, because eternity is on the line. Let us not be deceived, let us not be fooled. Serving Jesus begins today. What will you do with the opportunity that you have?

Will you serve Jesus today, or will you let another opportunity pass through your fingers? If we can help you in any way, if you wish to be baptized and have your sins forgiven, or to come back to the Lord, choose to follow Him today as we stand, as we sing the invitation song.