"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

What Then Shall I Do With Jesus? (27:22)

INTRODUCTION
  1. In Mt 27:11-22, we read of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor...
    1. While Jesus admitted to being the King of the Jews, He refused to answer the accusations of the chief priests and elders - Mt 27:11-12
    2. His silence caused Pilate to marvel greatly - Mt 27:13-14
    3. Pilate sought to release Jesus, but the multitude asked for Barabbas instead - Mt 27:15-21
    4. Which prompted Pilate to ask the question: "When then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" - Mt 27:22
  2. Pilate's question, "What then shall I do with Jesus?", is one that every person must ask...
    1. Many would prefer to ignore it
    2. Many try to let others make the choice (as did Pilate)
  3. But it is a question from which we cannot run away...
    1. We shall all one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ - 2Co 5:10
    2. His words will be the standard by which we will be judged - Jn 12:48

[And so each one of us should be asking ourselves, "What Then Shall I Do With Jesus?" To help answer this question, consider another question...]

  1. WHAT HAS JESUS OFFERED YOU?
    1. JESUS HAS PROVIDED THE CHANCE...
      1. For an abundant life, filled with true peace - Jn 10:10; 16:33
      2. To find salvation - Lk 19:10
      3. To enjoy cleansing from sin through His blood - 1Jn 1:7
    2. JESUS HAS PROCLAIMED THE CONDITIONS...
      1. We must believe in Him - Jn 8:24
      2. We must repent of our sins - Lk 13:3
      3. We must confess our faith before men - Mt 10:32-33; Ro 10:9-10
      4. We must be baptized for the remission of our sins - Mt 28:19; Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38
      5. We must remain faithful even to death - Re 2:10
    3. JESUS HAS PREDETERMINED THE ALTERNATIVES...
      1. Reject Him, and we will die in our sins to face the terrible consequences - Jn 8:24; 2Th 1:7-9; Re 21:8
      2. Believe in Him, and we receive everlasting life - Jn 5:24; Mt 19:29

      [Having consider what Jesus has offered us, we return to our original question...]

  2. WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS?
    1. WHAT SOME HAVE TRIED TO DO...
      1. Pilate tried to pass the choice on to others - Mt 27:24
        1. Are we guilty of doing something similar today?
        2. Trying to let others decide for us what we will do or believe about Jesus?
      2. Some in Athens simply mocked - Ac 17:32
        1. Many take this route in what they do with Jesus
        2. Rather than make the effort to decide what they should do, they simply laugh
      3. Felix tried to wait for a more convenient time - Ac 24:25
        1. This is another common reaction
        2. Hoping that through delay, they will not have to make the choice
        -- But we cannot escape the fact that we will one day be judged by Him - Ac 17:30-31
    2. WHAT WE SHOULD DO...
      1. Accept His gracious offer of salvation by obeying Him - He 5:9
      2. Become His disciples, committed to doing what He commanded - Mt 28:19-20
      3. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ - 2Pe 3:18
      4. Walk in Him, well-established in the faith - Col 2:6-7
      5. Develop the mind of Christ, the attitude of sacrifice and service - Php 2:1-8
CONCLUSION
  1. We have seen the feeble attempt by Pilate and others to answer the question "What Then Shall I Do With Jesus?"
  2. Let us not think we can answer the question by...
    1. Simply ignoring Him
    2. Simply not doing anything actively against Him
    -- For as Jesus said on another occasion: "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." - Mt 12:30

Jesus has given us every reason to accept and obey Him as our Savior and Lord. If you have not yet done so, will you not today respond to His gracious invitation to receive eternal life?