WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS WHO IS CALLED CHRIST? (Matt 27:22)

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1 WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS WHO IS CALLED CHRIST? (Matt 27:22) A. Does lowering the prices on expensive merchandise lower its value? 1. Someone once broke into a Neiman-Marcus store in Dallas & did just that. C. But everytime we put the things of this world ahead of our duty to the Lord, we put a price on Jesus that is far - far below His value or worth. 1. Do not love the world (1 Jn 2:15-17). 2. You shall love the Lord your God (Mt 22:37-39). 3. Seek first the kingdom of God (Matt 6:33). 2. But the discerning eyes (managers) knew the value & prices of every item in the store. D. Amos prophecied to a people who had marked down the prices of their blessings from God. B. When the Jews asked Pilate to release Barabbas instead of Christ, did that lower the value of Christ? 1. The LORD told them that they were rejoicing over nothing (Amos 6:13); things of no value. 1. He was the same sinless Lamb of God; mighty Son of God & Eternal Creator. a. Fine homes, furniture, wine, cosmetics, music, schemes to make profit (6; 8:5-6). 2. Satan has many people deceived about the value of Jesus Christ, but the discerning eye knows what He is worth! 2. They had forgotten that it was the LORD God of heaven who had given them their most valuable gift: His law, His care & protection. 1

2 E. It seems we always have a hard time putting the proper value on things that are valuable to God. 1. The unseen & eternal things take a back seat to what is seen & temporary (2 Cor 4:18). [Never before was that so clearly seen than on that sad day when Jesus stood before an angry mob. Beside Him was a notorious prisoner, & Pilate stood between them asking the Jews, Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? ] I. WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS A. Suddenly, a murmuring silence fell over the crowd as Pilate waited confidently for the logical answer. 1. But he miscalculated the influence of the priests & elders of the Jews (Matt 27:20). 2. When they chose Barabbas, Pilate must have had a look of startled disbelief in his face as he replied, What shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? 3. Their answer was swift & certain, They all said, Let Him be crucified! B. What can we learn from this thoughtless rejection of the True Son of God? 1. Envy is a powerful weapon in the hands of evil & selfish people. 2. People blinded by envy & willful ignorance are unable to see the value of Christ. 3. How quick & thoughtless people can be in their rejection of the Truth. [Everyone has had to do something with Jesus.] 2

3 II. PILATE S QUESTION REACHES US ALL A. People would like to think that they can stand on the sidelines & not get involved in matters relating to Jesus Christ, but such is not the case everyone is in this game (making a choice). [The brightest & most promising people who have ever lived have had to face the same choice & answer the same questions that Pilate put the Jews. And yet people still believe that they don t have to answer that question, What Shall I Do With Jesus?.] 1. His own people did not receive Him (Jn 1:11); His brothers did not believe Him (Jn 7:5) III. CONSIDER THE OPTIONS 2. Peter denied Him when three separate questions were put to Him (Jn 18:15-27). A. Don t Get Involved With Him 3. Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Him (Matt 26:14-16) 4. His disciples were slow of heart to believe Him (Lk 24:25) 5. They even looked upon His resurrected body & still had their doubts (Lk 24:38). 6. Great Commission (Matt 28:19; Mk 16:15) Matt 27:19 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." 1. Her involvement didn t go beyond acknowledging that Jesus was a just man. 2. Many people will admit that much about Jesus, but beyond that they want no involvement with Him. 3

4 B. Just Ignore Him 1. Consider the hundreds of people who were just minding their own business on that day Jesus was unjustly rejected. 2. They are like the people today who don t want to make any changes in their lives. 3. They want to pursue their own goals with a general feeling of good-will toward others. 4. Because true repentance & discipleship are just not in their vocabulary. 5. Sometimes we who are Christians can just ignore Christ. a. By refusing to greet one another (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Pet 5:14) b. By failing to show affection & brotherly love for one another (Rom 12:10) c. By forgetting to be hospitable to one another (1 Pet 4:9; Rom 12:13) d. By neglecting the needs of the least among us (Rom 12:13; Matt 25:45) e. By disregarding His commands in marriage (Eph 5:22, 25) C. Keep Quiet About Him 1. Like those who refused to confess Him for fear losing their place in society, jobs (Jn 9:22). 2. They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God (Jn 12:42-43). 3. They may have a secret allegiance to Christ, but because of peer-pressure they stand forever in the darkenss of indecion refusing to come to the Light. 4

5 4. This is the philosophy of live & let live. 5. Don t say too much; don t be too specific; be sure what you say is politically correct. The answer to the question, What Shall I Do With Jesus? is a question for the hear & now. And if we re having difficulty answering that question, we need to consider the cost of answering it incorrectly. D. Wait Before Following Him Luke 9:59-62 Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go & bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go & preach the kingdom of God." 61 And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go & bid them farewell who are at my house." 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, & looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Last week we noted the high price paid by the Jews for choosing Barabbas over Christ for answering Pilate s question, What Shall I Do With Jesus Who Is Called Christ by saying Take Him Away & Crucify Him. But what is the personal cost for rejecting Jesus (gospel)?] 1. Salvation in not a matter of tomorrow s actions, but of today s decisions (2 Cor 6:2). IV. CONSIDER THE COST OF REFUSING 2. The cemeteries are full of people who intented to obey Christ at the 11 th hour. A. Have you ever thought about what life is truly like without Him? [We cannot make these choices & expect to reap the harvest of life eternal in the presence of God (Gal 6:7-8). Psalm David shows us what life is like with Him. 5

6 The Lord is my Shepherd That's Relationship! I shall not want Supply! He maketh me to lie down in green pastures Peace of mind! He leadeth me beside the still waters Refreshment! He restoreth my soul Healing Forgiveness! He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness Guidance! For His name sake Purpose! Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Testing! I will fear no evil Protection! For Thou art with me Faithfulness! Thy rod & Thy staff they comfort me Discipline! Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies Sufficiency Acceptance Hope! Thou annointest my head with oil Consecration! My cup runneth over Abundance! Surely goodness & mercy shall follow me all the days of my life Grace! And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Security! Forever Eternity! 2. How attractive is life without these blessings? B. Have you ever thought what death will be like without Him? 2 Thess 1:7-9 when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, & on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord & from the glory of His power, C. One day, the tables will be turned & the question will be What Shall Jesus Do With Me? 1. Jesus came once as Savior; the next time human eyes behold Him He will be Judge. 2. His first coming was to do away with the power of sin & death; on His return He will do way with sinners those who did not avail themselves of the gospel. John 5:25-27 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, & now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; & those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 & has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 2 Tim 4:1 I charge you therefore before God & the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living & the dead at His appearing & His kingdom: Acts 17:30-31 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." 6

7 CLOSING A. What Jesus will do with us on that day will depend upon what we do with Him now. Luke 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of Me & My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, & in His Father's, & of the holy angels. Matt 10:32-33 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Song #327 What Shall It Be? What will you do with Jesus? The question comes to you! And you must give an answer, for something you must do. What will you do with Jesus? It comes by night & day; With pierced hands uplifted; He waits what will you say? What will you do with Jesus? He s knocking at the door! Refuse Him soul no longer, lest He should plead no more. What shall it be? What shall it be? What will your answer be? What will you do with Jesus? Oh what will your answer be? 7