Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Wednesday, 15 September 2021 06:15

What Will You Do With Jesus
by Terry Broome

The greatest person of history is Jesus Of Nazareth. His life has attracted more attention, raised more questions, and given more hope and consolation to mankind than that of anyone else who ever walked the earth. He revealed marvelous things concerning himself. Note what He had to say as to who He was:
“The Son of God” – John 3:16
“One with the Father” – John 10:30 – “I and the Father are one”
“Not from this world, but from above” – John 8:23 – “Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world”

“The savior of the lost” – Luke 19:10
There are many other wonderful truths about Him. It’s such a sad condition that the religious world was in at that time, and has been throughout the centuries. These declarations, in spite of their truthfulness, led to his death on the cross. When Jesus revealed himself to mankind, a decision had to be made: “What shall I do with Jesus?” His own people chose to reject him, John 1:11 (KJV) “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” They delivered him to Pilate for trial and hopeful execution.

Everyone who met Him and those of us who have heard of Him were faced with the same question that Pilate was faced with. Matthew 27:11-22 “What shall I do with Jesus which is called the Christ?” Lifting this question from its setting and bringing it forward 2000 years, we find the multitudes today either shifting responsibility like Pilate or rejecting him like the Jews. Only a few by comparison accept Jesus and make the commitment to live for him.
We’re quick to condemn Pilate for his act of cowardice, little realizing that we must answer the same question today. Consider Pilate:

First he declared our Lord’s innocence (Lk. 23:4)
Second, he shifted responsibility to Herod Antipas of Galilee and Perea. (Lk. 23:7).
Third, Pilate appealed to the decency of the people – Luke 23:14 – “I having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him.”
The appeal to decency failed. He still wanted their favor, but not this injustice. Lk 23:22 “What evil hath he done?” And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.”

Fourth, he tried to free Jesus through offering either He or Barabbas (a murderer, robber, leader of insurrection) for release. They wanted Barabbas! (Luke 23:19)
Finally, he sought to wash his hands of the matter (Matthew 27:24) but Pilate could not wash his hands of the blood of the Son of God. His life could never be the same again. Once we learn the truth about the Savior, we will never be the same again. Pilate’s answer is not an alternative. You must either accept Jesus and all of his blessings that go with that acceptance, or you must reject Him and be ready to receive all of the fearful consequences.

There is no third alternative. Our Lord said of this matter, Matthew 12:30 – “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” If you are a Christian, you stand with Christ and everything for which He stands. If you are not, you stand against Christ and everything for which He stands. What will you do with Jesus who is called the Christ?
The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489.