Make Your Choice

Trevor S. Ferguson

April 17, 2013

Matthew 27:15-23 (KJV)

¹⁵  Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

¹⁶  And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

¹⁷  Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

¹⁸  For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

¹⁹  When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

²⁰  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

²¹  The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

²²  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

²³  And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

INTRODUCTION

There is universal acceptance that Jesus Christ lived on earth as an historical person. There is however much debate as to who He is and what He represents. Some see Him as a great teacher; others see Him as a revolutionary. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes Him as the ‘founder of Christianity’, but comments that the discovery of the ‘historical Jesus’ is difficult. Few persons are neutral on Jesus. Most either love Him or hate Him, depending on how they see him.

In today’s passage the Pilate asked the Jews a pertinent question and required of them to make a choice concerning the fate of Jesus. Their choice led to His crucifixion. Although their choice was made on bad judgment, God turned the situation around through the resurrection, thus providing for all of us the hope of eternal life.

As we reflect today, I want us to focus on the question that Pilate asked the Jews on the day Jesus was crucified: “What then shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?” I would like to rephrase the question and ask us today: What have you done in response to Jesus Christ? I will further ask: What are you going to do in response Jesus Christ?

I challenge you to make your choice Jesus, today!

EXPOSITION 

Let us take a few moments and look at the context in which this question was asked. Jesus was brought  before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea by the Jews; He had already been tried by the Jewish Sanhedrin and found guilty of blasphemy, because He claimed to be the Christ and the Son of God. They had seen His miracles, they had heard His teachings, they knew that the teachings and miracles testified that He was the son of God and that His coming fulfilled many prophesies, but because his teachings and practices challenged and contradicted their hypocritical worship, they rejected Him.

Having made their decision they plotted and planned how they would accomplish their goal, i.e. to get rid of Jesus. They had conspired with Judas Iscariot, sought false witnesses against Him, convened a night-time hearing, convicted Him and then brought Him to Pilate. But, when Pilate heard the case he could find no justification for the charges that the Jews brought against Jesus and therefore sought to release Him.

It was the week of the Jewish Passover and there was a custom that Pilate would release a prisoner to the Jews. Pilate therefore offered to release Jesus but they asked for Barabbas instead. Surprised at their choice Pilate asked: “What then shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?” This question is the subject of our discourse today.

What will you do with Jesus?

How will you respond to the sacrifice that he made?

How will you respond to his offer of salvation?

What are you doing about his soon return?

We live in a religious society and as such most of us have been exposed to the teachings of Jesus from we were children. Many of us however have taken these things for granted.

Many persons attend church services, do their ‘religious duties’, try to be good persons, but fail to make an active decision regarding their relationship with Jesus Christ. It would appear that persons want to be associated or affiliated with Jesus, but do not want to make a commitment. I to challenge you today is to get out of the valley of indecision!

Do you acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One?  

Do you acknowledge that He is the manifestation of God in the flesh?

Do you believe that He was crucified, that He died on the cross, that He was buried and on the third day He rose again?

Do you believe that He now operates through the church and has manifested himself to us through the Holy Ghost?

Do you believe that He is coming back again?

Do you believe that those who lived for Christ in this world will reign with Him in heaven when he returns?

Do you believe that those who forsake Christ will be condemned to eternal damnation in a lake of fire?

If you believe, then you must act! You must forsake the way of this world and begin to live for Christ your Saviour. You must accept his offer of salvation. The message of salvation today is the same as that preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost: “…  Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  There after we must live a life of holiness as await his return:

CONCLUSION

We have reflected today of the question: What then shall we do with Jesus? I implore each of us today to respond to this question. You must make your choice today. Remember that the choice you make has implication for all eternity. The right choice is the choice to serve Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.  Make that choice today!!