What Do I Do with Jesus

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 19:1-16

 

John 19:12

From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

(NKJV)

 

Decisions, decisions, decisions, life is full of them. Some decisions are simple, like what to wear or eat. Others are more complicated and could even alter the direction of our lives. When making a decision, there will also be those in opposition to what we decide and those supporting our decision. As a believer in Jesus as my Savior, my decisions must be biblically based, in accordance with the will of God. Pilates' decision may seem like the wrong decision, but it is in accordance with God’s plan to redeem fallen humanity.

 

The events begin with Pilate scourging Jesus and the soldiers twisting a crown of thorns for his head and putting a purple robe on him (John 19:1-2). The soldiers then mocked Jesus by saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (John 19:3). Pilate then went out and addressed the crowd, telling them he found no fault in Jesus (John 19:4).

 

Pilate then brings Jesus out to the crowd wearing the crown of thorns and purple robe and tells the crowd to behold him, perhaps believing they would want him released (John 19:5). However, instead of wanting Him released, the crowd beholding Jesus cries out for Pilate to crucify Him to which Pilate tells them to do it themselves because he finds nothing about Jesus requiring crucifixion (John 19:6). The Jews tell Pilate that Jesus has violated Jewish law by saying He is the Son of Gpd (John 19:7). This caused Pilate to fear, so he takes Jesus to the Praetorium again and asks him where He is from, but Jesus gives no answer (John 19:8-9). Pilate is concerned that Jesus does not answer him, reminding Him that he has the power to either crucify or release Him (John 19:10). Jesus tells Pilate that he has no power over Him unless it came from God Himself and tells Pilate that those delivering Him to Pilate have the greater sin (John 19:11).

 

From that point on, Pilate sought to release Jesus but the crowd placed a guilt trip on him by reminding him that if he let Jesus go he is no friend of Caesar because anyone making himself a king speaks against Caesar (John 19:12). Pilate then brings Jesus out, sitting down on the judgment seat (John 19:13). It was about the sixth hour of Preparation Day for the Passover when Pilate brought Jesus to the crowd saying, “Behold your King!” (John 19:14). However, the crowd continues to cry out for Jesus’ crucifixion with Pilate asking them if he should crucify their king. The crowd responds by telling Pilate they have no king but Caesar (John 19:15). To appease an angry crowd, Pilate delivers Jesus up for crucifixion with the soldiers taking Him away (John 19:16).

 

The events of God’s plan leading to the crucifixion of Jesus are unfolding with Jesus now before Pilate, who must decide whether to crucify Him or not. It is not an easy decision to make because while there is no evidence to convict Jesus of a crime worthy of crucifixion (John 19:6), there is an angry mob that wants Jesus crucified. As a political leader, Pilate must decide whether to do the just thing and release an innocent man or appease an angry mob by sending an innocent man to his death. Pilate chooses to appease the angry mob, and while this may appear to be the wrong decision, it is a decision that would pave the way for each of us to have reconciliation with God through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s plans do not always make sense, but God’s will is always done.

 

Every person has a decision to make regarding Jesus: do I accept His free gift of salvation and spend eternity with Him in Glory, or do I reject the gift and spend eternity separated from God? We are all born into sin (Romans 3:23) and as such live under a death penalty (Romans 6:23). With this in mind, the logical decision is to accept the gift of salvation and spend eternity in the presence of God. However, not an angry mob, but a peer pressure mob is out there screaming at us to not accept the gift and continue eating, drinking, and being merry for tomorrow we die (Isaiah 22:13).

 

Like Pilate, every person reading this faces a decision that has eternal repercussions in their life. The fact is, we are all going to live eternally with the decision being where we want to spend our life after dying and leaving this world. Will we do nothing and choose the default setting and spend eternity separated from God, or choose to accept the gift of God offered by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and spend eternity with God, our creator? If your choice is to accept the gift of salvation from God, I invite you to pray with me now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

If you just prayed, I want to encourage you to find a local Church teaching the Bible so you can grow closer in your new relationship with the God you will spend eternity with. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.