What Will you do With Jesus?

Who Was Jesus?

Matthew 27:11–26 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. 15 At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.” 20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” “Barabbas!” they answered. 22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.

Jesus was crucified after this, beaten, whipped and then nailed to a tree. But the question sometimes comes up that this is all well and good, but what does it matter if Jesus was never a real person to begin with. I mean we all doubt sometimes, i wonder if it ever crosses your mind? It is something I have been thinking about as I was coming up to easter weekend.

One thing to remember is that the majority of scholars, begrudingly sometimes, admit that Jesus was alive, He was crucified by the romans and he did get buried in a tomb after.

Not only do we have the eyewitness accounts of His disciples, but we have accounts from other people who hated Him.

Tacitus

Who he was: - Roman historian (c. AD 56–120) Not a Christian and usually portrayed them negativeley.

Considered one of the most reliable historians of ancient Rome and he Wrote , a history of the Roman Empire Annals

What he said:

In Annals 15.44, describing Great Fire of Rome: “Christus… suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of… Pontius Pilate…”

Confirms Jesus existed (“Christus”), Confirms execution by crucifixion, Confirms timing under Pontius Pilate, Written by a hostile (non-Christian) source

Josephus

Next we have Josephus who was: Jewish historian (AD 37–100)

Not a Christian who Worked under Roman authority and Wrote Antiquities of the Jews

What he said in his writings

Mentions Jesus as a wise man and crucified under Pilate. Reference to James (Antiquities 20.9.1) “James, the brother of Jesus who is called Christ…”

Why it matters: Confirms Jesus existed, Confirms He was known as “Christ”, Confirms early followers and family (James)

Pliny the Younger

Lastly we have someone named Pliny the Younger. Who he was: Roman governor of Bithynia (modern Turkey) - Lived c. AD 61–113 and Wrote letters to Emperor Trajan

What he said: In Letters 10.96: Christians Christians met before dawn on a fixed day (likely Sunday) to sing hymns to Christ as to a god. To prove they were not Christians (and thus be released), accused people had to curse Christ — something Pliny notes that real Christians could not be forced to do.

Why it matters:

Shows early worship of Jesus as divine

Confirms Christianity spread quickly Written ~AD 110 (very early)

Together, these three give independent, non-Christian confirmation that: Jesus existed, He was crucified, His followers worshipped Him as God. A Roman historian confirms His execution, A Jewish historian references Him and His brother, A Roman governor confirms early worship. The movement spread rapidly This is why even skeptical historians affirm Jesus’ existence.

So the question then is what do we do with king Jesus? For that I want to read from the book of Acts

Acts 2:32–40 CSB

32 “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

Jesus is real, he did really live and even though we may sometimes doubt we can know through the testimony of many that Jesus is who the bible says that He is and that we can trust in Him. Our response to what Jesus did is the same thing Peter told those from the early church we must repent and follow the Lord in Obedience. Jesus is Lord and we must follow Him. Jesus went through all that horrible torture so that we might be saved. He rose again from the grave so our response must be to follow Him.

What are you doing with Jesus? How have you made Him Lord over your life?