Sermon Notes: What Shall I Do With The One Known as Jesus The Christ?

What Shall I Do With The One Known as Jesus The Christ?

What are we to do with Jesus?

Pilate asked an important question today

What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ

The answer to this question will determine a person’s eternity

God has given man freewill and He must answer the question: What will we do with Jesus, who is called the Christ

Today we begin in Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14

Matthew 27:1-2 (CSB)

When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death. 2 After tying him up, they led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. [1]

1.  Let us not forget what Isaiah 53:7

a.   He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. [2]

2.  Jesus willingly went before Pilate

a.   He was tied up like a common criminal

Matthew 27:11-14 (CSB)

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.

Jesus answered, “You say so.” 12 While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer.

13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you?” 14 But he didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was quite amazed. [3]

1.  Pilate now begins to question the King of all Kings

a.   Pilate would sit as a judge over Jesus

                                             i.     The King of all Kings humbled Himself

                                           ii.     Pilate has no idea who it is who stands before Him

                                        iii.     Paul wrote these words concerning Jesus in Philippians 2:5-8 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. [4]

                                         iv.     One day Pilate will stand in judgement before the risen Christ

                                           v.     The apostle Paul even speaks of the judgment of all believers stand before Christ at the bemaseat judgement

b.  Jesus is changed with three crimes by the religious leaders

                                             i.     Luke 23:2 (CSB) 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”[5]

                                           ii.     Jesus would not be put to death for blasphemy by the Roman government

1.  The Jews did not have the authority to put anyone to death

                                        iii.     But when Pilate heard that Jesus is a king, this was a crime punishable by death

c.   Pilate asks the question are you the king of the Jews John 18:33-38 (CSB) 33 Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?” 35 “I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked. “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 “What is truth?” said Pilate. [6]

d.  Pilate understands and knows Jesus is innocent

                                             i.     From his conversation with Jesus and his conduct during the accusation, Pilate knows this man is innocent

                                           ii.     But Pilate finds himself in a very difficult position

                                        iii.     He is called to keep the peace and failure to do so could not only mean the loss of his position but the loss of his life

                                         iv.     Pilate came to power in AD 26

1.  He was positioned by God for this day

2.  He did many things that demonstrated his disdain for the Jewish people

3.  But it was his Roman duty to keep the peace

                                           v.     The Jewish religious leaders even make this statement in John 19:12 (CSB) 12 From that moment Pilate kept trying to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!” [7]

2.  The choice now stands between Jesus Barrabas or Jesus known as The Christ

Matthew 27:15-26 (NIV) 15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.[8]

a.   Who is Barabbas

                                             i.     We know from scripture that he was a rebel and a violent man

                                           ii.     Luke 23:18 (CSB) 18 Then they all cried out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) [9]

                                        iii.     His name was Jesus Barabbas

                                         iv.     The name Barabbas means son of the father

1.  Bar Abba

b.  Jesus took Barabbas place

                                             i.     The Son of God took the man whose name means son of the Father

                                           ii.     Jesus who knew no sin would take the place of a rebel and a murder

                                        iii.     Who is Barabbas?

c.   We are Barabbas

                                             i.     All of humanity is Barabbas

                                           ii.     Barabbas represents every one of us

1.  All of us have sinned

a.  Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; [10]

2.  Our sin deserves death

a.  Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.[11]

                                        iii.     There were two criminals who were crucified next two Jesus

1.  These men most likely were arrested and Barabbas would have faced the same fate

                                         iv.     Pilate’s wife knew Jesus was innocent

1.  Matthew 27:19 (NIV) While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” [12]

                                           v.     Pilate knew Jesus was innocent

1.  John 18:38b-40 (CSB) After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds for charging him. 39 You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” 40 They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.[13]

                                         vi.     This was the Father’s will

1.  The people call for Jesus to be crucified

2.  Crucifixion was designed in a way to cause the greatest level of suffering and humiliation

3.  Pilate is surprised that the Jews would call for one of their own to be crucified

4.  Matthew 27:22-25 What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” [14]

                                      vii.     Pilate was not innocent of Jesus blood

1.  By simply washing his hands of the matter he was still putting to death an innocent man

2.  Not only the Jews had rejected their Messiah but the Romans put Him to death

3.  Both Jew and Gentile are guilty of the shed blood of Jesus Christ

4.  He gave His life because of our sin

3.  Every one of us must make a choice

a.   Everyone who stood in the crowd that day were faced with a choice of what they would do with Jesus

b.  Pilate and all of Rome were faced with a choice of what they would do with Jesus

c.   Jesus Barabbas represent not only a murder and violent man, and all of humanity, but he also represents the world and its ways

                                             i.     If we choose the world and reject Jesus Christ we forfeit the most precious gift God could give us

                                           ii.     Matthew 16:26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? [15]

                                        iii.     The decision to reject Jesus is to choose death

d.  To choose Jesus Christ is to choose eternal life

                                             i.     John 10:9 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

                                           ii.     John 14:6 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

                                        iii.     John 11:25-26 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

                                         iv.     To choose Jesus Christ is to choose eternal life

e.   The Jews of Jesus time made a profound statement

                                             i.     Matthew 27:25 25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!

                                           ii.     Indeed that generation and their children would face the judgement of the Lord when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD

                                        iii.     They choose to reject their Messiah

                                         iv.     But this was the plan and will of the Father

f.    It is because of the rejection that Jesus faced that we have salvation today

                                             i.     He not only took Barabbas place, He took my place and He took yours

                                           ii.     Jesus is the only way to salvation because His life is the only life without sin

                                        iii.     His shed blood washes away all our sin and to save us He humbled Himself

                                         iv.     He took on the life of a servant

                                           v.     He endured the suffering and death of Calvary so that our sins can be forgiven and we can have brand new life in Him.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Mt 27:1–2.

[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Is 53:7.

[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Mt 27:11–14.

[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Php 2:5–8.

[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Lk 23:2.

[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jn 18:33–38.

[7] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jn 19:12.

[8] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 27:15–26.

[9] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Lk 23:18–19.

[10] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ro 3:23.

[11] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ro 6:23.

[12] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 27:19.

[13] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jn 18:38–40.

[14] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 27:22–25.

[15] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 16:26.