Radio Transcript

What Will You Do With Jesus?

Yet still, consider the significance of Pilate’s question, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ." A personal question for Pilate to ask; and a very personal question for each of us to ask today. It’s personal, because I can’t answer for you and you can’t answer for me. Let’s consider how some have answered this question.

First, consider how the wise men answered the question. "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him" (Matthew 2:1-2). How did these wise men answer the question, "What then shall I do with Jesus?" They showed their devotion to Jesus. Who were these wise men exactly and where did they come from? We don’t know for sure. But many think these men traveled to Judea from the area of Babylon (modern day Iraq). If this is correct, this would have been a distance of approximately one thousand miles, perhaps taking three to four months to complete. Yet, these men took the time that was necessary and put forth the effort that was required to worship Jesus. In addition, these men were willing to risk the dangers faced along the way.

Why are so many people, including some who call themselves Christians, so unwilling to get into their air-conditioned automobiles and drive a short distance to assemble with others and worship Jesus? The answer is obvious. These people have a heart problem. No, I’m not talking about a heart with clogged arteries or an irregular beat. I’m talking about a heart that is hardened and calloused. I’m talking about a heart that is lacking in a love for Christ. I’m talking about a heart with misplaced priorities.

Second, consider how Herod answered this question. "Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men" (Matthew 2:16). How did Herod answer the question, "What then shall I do with Jesus?" He tried to destroy Jesus. Herod wanted Jesus removed from the face of the earth.

Sadly, this attitude did not die with Herod. There are still many today who would like to see Jesus removed from our society. The efforts of groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union are numerous, but consider just one example. The following, dated February 21, 2002, was taken from the ACLU’s own web site and concerns their efforts in Lee County, Florida. "Lee County parents and other concerned citizens today filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop the Lee County school district from teaching an unconstitutional Bible History course that uses the Bible as though it is a history textbook. Serving as co-counsel in the lawsuit are the Florida law firm of Steel Hector & Davis, People For the American Way and the ACLU Foundation of Florida.

Over a decade ago, the federal courts prevented religious zealots from evangelizing public school children with the teaching of the Biblical story of creation as science, Simon added. We expect the courts to similarly invoke constitutional principles to prevent the Bible from being used as a history text in Lee County." Friends, if the members of the ACLU had their way, they would be successful in removing every mention of Jesus from our society. Their often used phrase, "Freedom of religion," could more aptly be described as "Freedom from religion."

Third, consider how Satan answered the question. "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread" (Matthew 4:1-3.) How did Satan answer the question, "What then shall I do with Jesus?" He tried to dictate to Jesus.

Satan’s arrogance is still prevalent today among many who want to tell Jesus what to do. They want to tell Jesus how they are going to worship. Their worship is often carried out with the result of pleasing themselves, rather than pleasing Jesus. For example, some people seem to take pride in the fact that they use mechanical instruments of music in their worship, lacking any scriptural authority for what they do. Others want to tell Jesus how they are going to be saved. Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). But many respond, "No, Jesus. That’s not the way it’s going to be. I’m going to be saved first, and then I’ll be baptized." If these people had their way, Jesus would have said, "He who believes and is saved shall be baptized." Consider another example. The apostle Paul wrote, "And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence" (I Timothy 2:12). Remember, the words Paul wrote are the commandments of the Lord (I Corinthians 14:37). But many respond, "No, Jesus. That’s not the way it’s going to be. We’re going to let women teach and have authority over a man. We’re going to have women preachers in our assemblies."

Fourth, consider how Peter, Andrew, James, and John answered the question. "Now Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Then they immediately left their nets and followed Him. And going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. And He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him" (Matthew 4:18-22.) How did these men answer the question, "What then shall I do with Jesus?" They became dedicated to Jesus. They decided to drop what they were doing and follow Jesus. Notice these men immediately followed Jesus, as opposed to those who want to put off their decision to follow Jesus. These men left their boat and their father in order to follow Jesus, as opposed to many today who allow their possessions or their families to stand between them and Jesus. It’s a fact that following Jesus often "disrupts our plans." When we deny self and allow Jesus to become the center of our lives, we leave other things behind. But sadly, many are unwilling to deny self.

Fifth, consider how the leper answered the question. "When he had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them" (Matthew 8:1-4.) How did this leper answer the question, "What then shall I do with Jesus?" He drew near to Jesus in his time of trouble. The parallel account in Mark 1:40 indicates the leper kneeled down to Jesus, showing reverence and respect for Jesus.

How do you react in time of trouble? When we are in time of need, such as the loss of a loved one through death, or perhaps experience a serious illness, we ought to seek to draw closer to Jesus, just as the leper sought to come nearer to Jesus. Sadly, many seem to turn away from Jesus at a time when they need him the most. More than once I’ve heard someone say, "I know I should be coming to church. I’ve just got some problems in my life that I need to get worked out first. When I do, then I’ll get back in church." Such an attitude often prevents a person from receiving the very help that we all sorely need from time to time.

Sixth, consider how the Gergesenes answered the question. "When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time? Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine. And He said to them, Go. So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region" (Matthew 8:28-34).

Jesus ridded these men of their demon possession. What a magnificent blessing! How wonderful it is to be in Jesus’ presence! We would expect the Gergesenes to react with great joy when they heard what Jesus had done. We would expect the Gergesenes to plead with Jesus to stay in their midst. But instead, the people wanted Jesus to move on. They wanted Jesus to stay way from them. They begged Jesus to depart from the region. What a terrible response to Jesus’ love. Yet many today have a similar attitude. Jesus has demonstrated his great love for them by giving his life for them, yet they want nothing to do with Jesus.

What will you do with Jesus? Oh, nothing, you say. But it’s not possible to simply do nothing, for Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me" (Matthew 12:30). It’s not possible to remain neutral, to simply do nothing.

What will you do with Jesus?