What Shall We Do With Jesus?

“No man can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24). Aesop speaks in one of his fables about a time when the beasts and fowls were engaged in war. The bat tried to belong to both parties. When the birds were victorious, he would wing around telling that he was a bird; when the beasts won a fight, he would walk around them assuring them that he was a beast. But soon his hypocrisy was discovered and he was rejected by both the beasts and the birds. He had to hide himself, and now only by night can he appear openly.

The Bat’s Indecision

“No man can serve two masters” (). Aesop speaks in one of his fables about a time when the beasts and fowls were engaged in war. The bat tried to belong to both parties. When the birds were victorious, he would wing around telling that he was a bird; when the beasts won a fight, he would walk around them assuring them that he was a beast. But soon his hypocrisy was discovered and he was rejected by both the beasts and the birds. He had to hide himself, and now only by night can he appear openly.

(ESV) 22Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”

(Pilate) Despite his enormous and proven ability as a leader, he was indecisive as he stood before Christ. He knew Christ was innocent, for he saw no evil in Him (cp. ).

22Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”

Yet he had to tread carefully with the Jewish authorities lest he fall into their disfavor and they report him to Rome and he lose his position and wealth.

In the behavior of Pilate is seen the picture and tragedy of an indecisive man.

1. He rejected the Lord's strong confession (v.11-14). , , , Kings 18:2

onfession (v.11-14).

a. Christ has given man a strong confession. 1) A strong claim: He is King ().

a. Christ has given man a strong confession. A strong claim: He is King ().

b. Jesus' strong controlled behavior: under severe accusation ().

b. A strong controlled behavior: perfection (; cp. ).

c. Jesus' strong enduring purpose: under repeated questioning He endured.

2. He compromised clear evidence (v.15-18).

c. A strong enduring purpose: to die for the sins of the world (; ).

d. Jesus' impact: Pilate was impressed, but still indecisive.

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" ().

"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" ().

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" ().

"How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him" ().

Lesson 1. An indecisive man is just like Pilate: he rejects the clear confession of our Lord. Lesson 2. It is futile to argue with a close-minded personLesson 3. Christ endured in His great purpose, even unto death. We must be just as enduring.

Lesson 2. It is futile to argue with a close-minded person

Lesson 3. Christ endured in His great purpose, even unto death. We must be just as enduring.

"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" ().

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" ().

"How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him" ().

2. He compromised clear evidence (v.15-18). , ,

3. He failed to listen to a strong warning (v.19).

1. Pilate was seeking a compromise. He was trying to declare Christ innocent and to please the worldlings who were accusing Christ. Despite the clear evidence that Christ was innocent, he still lacked the courage and decisiveness to take a stand for Christ. 2. Pilate fully expected the people to choose to release Christ. He thought his compromise had worked, for who would not choose a great teacher over a notorious criminal?

2. Pilate fully expected the people to choose to release Christ. He thought his compromise had worked, for who would not choose a great teacher over a notorious criminal?

"He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth" ().

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" ().

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you...Draw nigh to God, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" ().

Lesson 1. Two facts : 1) Compromising with a man set on doing evil will not work. He will go on with his evil no matter the compromise. 2) Compromising when the evidence is clear will not work. It weakens character and principle and position. Lesson 2. We need to declare Christ innocent, declare loudly and clearly that He is the Son of God.

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" ().

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you...Draw nigh to God, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" ().

3. He failed to listen to a strong warning (v.19).

1. She declared Jesus to be just, righteous.

2. She warned there was something very unusual about Jesus, something that could cause suffering and sorrow.

3. Pilate listened to the warning but still chose to seek a compromise.

(ESV) 2For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

(ESV) 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

(ESV) 13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—

Lesson 1. The indecisive man is warned: suffering and sorrow lie ahead. Judgment is coming upon any man who does not take his stand for Christ (; ). Lesson 2. God uses many ways in His attempt to reach men. He used the dream of a wife to warn Pilate. He also warns us: we must be courageous, not indecisive.

2For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

(ESV) 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

(). "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfuless of sin" (). "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain" (). Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – .

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfuless of sin" ().

13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

(ESV) 13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—

"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain" ().

13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—

4. He ignored the influence of evil men upon people (v.20).

Religious leaders were either moving or sending their emissaries among the people to influence them to do this evil deed—the deed of murdering Christ. All the while Pilate sat indecisively upon his throne, ignoring the reality of the situation.

"For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written" ().

"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" ().

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father....These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you" (, ).

Lesson 1. Evil men will try to influence others in order to get their way. To ignore the fact is to hide one's head as an ostrich in the sand. Lesson 2. Indecision and compromise are not the way to stop the influence of evil men. Evil men will continue to influence people as long as we are indecisive and compromising. Lesson 3. Proclaiming Christ righteousness is the only way to stop the influence of evil men in the world.

5. He gave in to worldly pressure (v.21-23).

"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" ().

. He gave in to worldly pressure (v.21-23).

1. The people preferred an evil man to the Holy Man, preferred a man who took life to the Prince who gave life (cp. ).

2. Pilate was weak, indecisive, non-courageous throughout the whole episode. He would not act decisively; he would not courageously declare Christ to be what he knew: innocent.

3. The people asked for Jesus to be executed in the most horrible and painful way—by crucifixion. This was just as Christ had foretold ().

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" ().

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" ().

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" ().

Lesson 1. The pressure of the world to do evil is great. Indecision and compromise are not the way to face the world: decisive dedication and separation are (; ; ). Lesson 2. Most do prefer the company of evil, sinful men to that of the Prince of life. Note: even worldly religionists choose the worldly over the Prince of life. Lesson3. It is when we are indecisive or willing to compromise that the pressure of the world to do evil gets to us.

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" ().

6. He tried to escape responsibility for evil (v.24).

7. Conclusion: the responsibility for Jesus' blood is cried out for by the Jews (v.25).

"What Shall We Do withJesus?” 1.Accept Christ as Savior 2.Trust Christ as Lord 3.Obey Christ as Master

1.Accept Christ as Savior 2.Trust Christ as Lord

“Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.”

3.Obey Christ as Master

1.Accept Christ as Savior

2.Trust Christ as Lord

3.Obey Christ as Master"

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