What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?

Introduction:

Matthew 27:11–26 NASB95

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed. 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. 21 But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” 23 And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” 25 And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

matthew 27:11-

Then

Then

-Timeline-Triumphant entry-Sunday; Trial-High Priest-Thursday evening; Pilate Confrontation-Early Friday Morning, Crucifixion-Friday at 9am, Jesus Dead and pulled off the cross around 3pm

Who is Pontus Pilate?

Luke 23:1–11 NASB95

1 Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” 3 So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.” 6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.

-Josephus First Century Jewish Historian reports that Pilate arrive in Jerusalem around 26ad very close to the time Jesus started his public ministry.

-He also reports that when he arrived at Jerusalem He and his Roman soldiers paraded into Jerusalem with images of the Emperor Tiberius on all of their military regalia, & equipment. This caused the Jews to became irate and it caused the first uprising which eventually Pilate stop by killing some of the Jews.

-The Emperor Tiberius sent Pilate to Jerusalem to maintain order, but not to upset the region. Rome had already conquered the known world and their troops were spread all over the world. They wanted Pilate to collect taxes and leave them alone to practice Judaism. Pilate however had other intention he felt it has his role to make the Jews bow down to the Roman Caesar. That is what caused the first uprising.

-The Second Uprising was caused when Pilate decided to take money from the Sacred Treasury and build an aqueduct to bring water into the city of Jerusalem. The Jews strenuously objected to this and began to surround the judgement seat where Pilate ruled from, so Pilate had Roman soldiers dress up as Jews and disperse themselves in the crowd. When the Jews began to try and move against Pilate those Romans soldiers beat them with clubs killing many of them and left many others maimed and injured. The Religious leaders wrote a letter to Rome complaining about Pilate, and Tiberius was irate. Because Pilate was supposed to be maintaining order by leaving the Jews alone to worship their God. Tiberius just wanted their taxes he did not feel the need to conquer them. Pilate wanted total subjugation. This caused a major rift between Pilate and The Roman Emperor Tiberius. Pilate was on thin ice at home in Rome.

-This letter and correspondence also ingratiated the Emperor with the High Priest and King Herod. At this point in the narrative King Herod and Pilate did not get along. But Pilate did not kill him, because Herod was friends with the Emperor. So by the time Jesus comes on the scene Pilate knew that he was supposed to keep the Region under control without any issues, or both the Religious leaders and Herod would tell on him. If Rome called him home from Judea it would not be pretty.

-One might say that Pilate was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Always

Mark 4:1 NASB95

1 He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.

-Jesus plans and orchestrates events based on what will bring him the most glory, and what will be the best for us.

Objective: We want to evaluate the 5 interrogatives(questions) that Pilate asks during this questioning. He asks 3 to Jesus, and 2 to the crowd.

I. Are you the king of the Jews?

I. Are you Kings of the Jews?

Matthew 28:18–20 NASB95

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 27:11 NASB95

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”

matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 27:11

-(v.11) “Jesus stood before the governor” Jesus was in front of the governor of the region because the Jewish religious leaders wanted him dead, but could not execute the death sentence on him. They needed the permission of Pilate the governor.

-(v.11) Pilate asks him “Are you the King of the Jews?” Now this should be strange to you. Why would he ask this question to a man he just meet. He is asking this question because this is the charge that the Jewish leaders levied against Jesus. This was a set up because this is not the primary reason they were trying to kill Jesus.

Matthew 26:63-65 (support)

Matthew 26:63–65 NASB95

63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;

-(v.63) You can see from this text that the reason they want Jesus died is because he calls himself “the Son of Man” which is a title that is far more lofty than King of Jews(Herod had that title). Jesus was claiming equality with God and for them that is “Blasphemy” now why would they change the charge when they came to Pilate.....Pilate could care less if some crazy man dressed in dirty rags claimed to be the Son of God. Pilate had no regard for the Jewish religion. The Pharisees knew that, but if they said he makes himself out to be a King, then that would be a direct threat to Pilates rule in that area.

-Now Luke puts a little more meat on this:

Luke 23:2 NASB95

2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”

-what are the three claims that they make:

a. We found this man misleading our nation(he is trying to get a following)

b. And he is forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar

c. Saying that He himself is Christ, a King

-They painted Jesus to be a potential troublemaker for Rome. When they mentioned he encourages us not to pay taxes they were hoping for a quick verdict.

-They painted Jesus to be a potential troublemaker for Rome. When they mentioned he encourages us not to pay taxes they were hoping for a quick verdict.

What was Jesus response to the question from Pilate?

-He answered very simple and plainly “it is as you say” I am the chosen one, I am the prince of peace, I am the everlasting father, I am the scepter, I am the passover lamb, I am the captain of the host, I am the Angel of the Lord, I am the Seed that will crush Satan. I am Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Why was he so evasive when the Jews questioned him?

luke 4:14-21 Support

Luke 4:14–21 NASB95

14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. 16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” 20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

-Jesus taught them who he was from the word, Jesus showed them who he was from his miracles. He had shaken the dust off his feet with some of these religious leaders.

II. Do you hear how many things they testify against you?

II. Do you hear how many things they testify against you?

Matthew 27:12 NASB95

12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer.

Matthew 27:12–13 NASB95

12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?”

matthew

-(v.12) The chief religious leaders are throwing out all kind of accusation against Jesus but Jesus did not respond.

-(v.12) Pilate said to him “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” Why did Jesus just remain so silent while they threw out all kinds of lies against him. His silence amazed Pilate. In Pilate’s world you don’t throw out accusation against a King and live. Jesus is just silent. If one person had a right to defend themselves it is Jesus.

Why was Jesus so resolute and silent when being accused?

-Yall remember from last week when I said there were over 353 specific prophecy that Jesus had to fulfilled well this is one of them. So when he was quiet before his accuser “he was keeping his eyes on the bigger picture.”

support

Isaiah 53:7 NASB95

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.

-(v.7) You see Jesus was not soft nor weak, but he was loving and long suffering. He did not spend his time defending himself, because he was being obedient to the Father by fulfilling all prophecy relate to him. He was on a mission.

Transition Statement-By this time Pilate is simple amazed(v.14) at Jesus. Amazed-marvel, astonished, or be struck with admiration.

-Pilate was starting to respect Jesus and that reason is found in (v.18)

Matthew 27:18 NASB95

18 For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.

matthew 27:

-Pilate is looking at Jesus: Clothes of a poor person, No crown, No palace, no army defending him, just a lowly poor man claiming to be a king, and Yet he speaks with such power and conviction, and he got these rich affluent Religious leaders up in arms. Jesus is standing toe to toe with most powerful person in the region.

a. Clothes of a poor person

-For the third question we need to go to John’s Gospel

b. No

III. What is truth?

John 18:37–38 NASB95

37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.

John 18:33–38 NASB95

33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.

-(v.37) Pilate ask Jesus the same question, but John gives more meat than Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Jesus tells Pilate I am a king and I was born to reveal or testify to the Truth in this world. This world does not know truth because the author and source of all truth had to be born into the world.

-(v.38) Pilate ask an age old question that we are still grappling with now. “What is truth?” Since the beginning of time Truth has always been situational for most people. Meaning truth is something that can be bent to fit my personal narrative. Let me give you a couple of examples:

a. When my boys start to have sex I close my eyes, but when my daughters have sex I hold them accountable.

b. When a president I like is in office I close my eyes to his indiscretion or I make excuses for them(saying well no one is perfect, or judge not less you be judge)

c. As parent when you say “Do as I say rather than what I do”

-We are not much different than Pilate. We bend truth all the time.

-When Pilate said “What is Truth?” he is coming from a conquering nations mindset. When we see a nation we want to conquer and kill whether it is wrong or right we do it. We don’t follow truth we follow what is convenient for that time....Pilate is a pragmatist!!

-(v.37) Jesus came to set the record straight about Truth. Truth is not situational it is objective, it is not based on opinions, or blogs, it is fixed like gravity. You can deny it, but that will not take away your accountability to it. Supposedly in an interview the Pope denied that Hell Exist: Daniel Akin says “Christians do not believe in hell because of what the pope or anyone else says. Christian believe in hell because of what Jesus and the Bible says.”

-Essentially Jesus is saying to mankind you don’t get to make up your own truth because:

John 14:6 NASB95

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Transition Statement-Pilate stop questioning Jesus and then went to the crowd

IV. Which of the two do you want me to release for you?

IV. Which of the two do you want me to release for you?

Matthew 27:16–17 NASB95

16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

Matthew 27:17 NASB95

17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

-(v.16) Pilate began to think I need someone who can quiet this crowd down. If I offer them this trouble maker over Jesus then they may choose Jesus. His hope was that I will choose someone so bad that maybe they will choose to let Jesus go. Pilate was doing everything that he could to not execute Jesus. He chose a man named “Barrabas”

matthew 27:

Who is Barrabas?

a. Matthew says he is a “notorious prisoner” Matthew tells us Barrabas was a well known hoodlum

b. Mark tells us Barrabas had been imprisoned with a group of insurrectionist who were trying to start a war with Rome and committed murder. Jewish Freedom Fighters.

-Sidenote: The Word used for the thieves on the cross-lestes-means robber but later became used to describe Jewish Freedom Fighters.

support

Mark 15:7 NASB95

7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection.

-(v.7) You will see that Barrabas was imprisoned with others but he was picked as the ruler of this group. It seems as if all of them are awaiting execution. Most interpreters believe that Barrabas running buddies are the two other thieves on the cross. Jesus was put in between them because he was making the claim of being the “King of the Jews” meaning he was the most dangerous. He truly took Barrabas place as the leader of this group of insurrectionist.

-(v.17) in this verse Pilate went from questioning Jesus to questioning the Religious leaders. he asks “Whom do you want me to release to you?”

matthew 27:

-(v.17) in this verse Pilate went from questioning Jesus to questioning the Religious leaders. he asks “Whom do you want me to release to you?”

What’s going on here?

john 18:39 support

John 18:39 NASB95

39 “But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?”

-(v.39) “But you have a custom” This was a tradition that the Jews had that Pilate was respecting.

-(v.39) You will see from this verse that during “Passover” the Jews had a custom of releasing a guilty prisoner. They may have done this as a symbolic reminder of what passover was about. Once a year the Jews would pick someone’s sins to “Passover”

-(v.17) there is something else interesting about Barrabas. Barrabas in the Aramaic is really more like a last name. It means the son of a Father. His actually name was Jesus. It was Jesus Barrabas. Some translators left it off because they did not want to disrespect Jesus. But Matthew put it in there. Now “Jesus” was a common name during that time, but imagine the providence.

-Pilate is asking them who do you want?

“Jesus Barrabas the Murder” or “Jesus Christ the King”

-(v.19) While the Religous leaders are getting the crowd stirred up to pick Jesus Barrabas Pilate’s wife pulls his coattail.... “Don’t fool with this man, I have had dreams about him he is a righteous man; leave him alone”

john 19:12 support

John 19:10 NASB95

10 So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”

John 19:12 NASB95

12 As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”

-(v.20) The Religious leaders persuaded and stirred the crowd up to pick Barrabas instead of Jesus. They worked the crowd into a frenzy all on one accord to pick Jesus Barrabas

-(v.20) The Religious leaders persuaded and stirred the crowd up to pick Barrabas instead of Jesus. They worked the crowd into a frenzy all on one accord to pick Jesus Barrabas

-Now you remember when I told you that the releasing of a criminal during Passover was probably a symbolic gesture to help teach Passover. It is really only one side the releasing of a guilty sinner, but the basis for that release is a slaughtered animal who takes the place of the guilty party. Jesus in this scene is showing them what a real passover is. Jesus Christ is being exchanged for Jesus Barrabas. Jesus Christ is taking his place on the cross. Jesus is taking his punishment. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for Jesus Barrabas but also for all those who are yelling give us Barrabas.

Transition Statement-Despite his every effort Pilate had Jesus beaten hoping that would satisfied but it did not they want him executed notice his last question to the blood thirsty crowd

V. What Shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?

V. What Shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?

Matthew 27:22-

Matthew 27:22–26 NASB95

22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” 23 And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” 25 And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

-(v.22) “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asks a deep penetrating question. This question has been perplexing mankind since Jesus died.

-What shall I do with Jesus the Christ!!???

-What do the Muslims Say?: Jesus was a wise teacher and prophet to be well respected. He was not the Son of God

-What do the Jews say?: He was a rabbi or good teacher he was not the Messiah

-What do the Hindus say?”:Jesus was a wise teacher; he is one of many Gods

-What do the Buddhist say?: Jesus was a wise teacher, and holy man

-What do the Jehovah Witness say?: Jesus is a creation of God, he is not eternal and he is not God. He did not rise bodily from the grave only spiritually.

-Catholic-They believe in who Jesus says he is, but they do not believe in what he says. When he say “it is finished” they say we must do good works to be saved.

You want to know the total number of people who practice all of these faiths=5billion don’t believe in the Jesus from the Bible. Its only 8b people in the world.

-To this day we still don’t know what to with Christ.

The word warned us about this Name:

support

1 Corinthians 1:23–24 NASB95

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Romans 1:

Romans 1:16 NASB95

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

-(v.23) Notice how the Jews answered the question: “Crucify Him”

-(v.24) Like any great politician instead of doing what’s right Pilate did what worked. He allowed an innocent man to die on his watch, because he saw the court case was leading to a riot. he was more concerned with his Job status than “Truth”. He washed his hands, but his heart was still dirty.

-(v.25) The People pronounced a curse on themselves “saying his blood shall be on us and on our children” And we read that statement and think “man they are in trouble!!!” But what about you???

-(v.26) Pilate exchanged Jesus Barrabas for Jesus the Christ and he was crucified.

Conclusion

-What are you going to do with Jesus?

-Have you chosen Jesus Barrabas instead of Jesus the Christ?

-You must remember that both Jesus Barrabas and Jesus the Christ were liberators. One wanted earthly liberation and one wanted Spiritual Liberation.

-The Jews chose the earthly liberation over the heavenly liberation. Everyday you choose something over Christ you are saying the earthly is more important than the heavenly.

-What is getting in your way of choosing Jesus the Christ? A person, a habit, possession, job, or yourself. To choose anything over Christ is like choosing Barrabas.

-What shall you do with Christ this Easter??

a. Weed

Romans 1:16 NASB95

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.