What to do with Jesus (4 points)

• Introduction…
  • People have a lot of different ideas about Jesus Christ…
  • What it means to believe in Jesus – the role Jesus should play in our daily lives…
  • Some try to limit Jesus to a Religion / others use church as a way to have a have fun…
  • Many just follow the crowd – with no thought of where they are going…
  • There are even some who know who Jesus is – but are afraid to stand up for Him…
  • At the trial of Jesus – we are going to see all 4 of these reactions to Christ…
    
• 1^st – Religion – Jesus before the Jewish leaders… vs. 1-7
  • The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus – but they lacked the authority… vs. 1
    • John 18:31 – “The Jews said, ‘It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death…’”
    • Around Jesus birth – Rome took away the Jewish right of Capital Punishment…
    • The leaders could condemn Jesus – but they did not have the right to kill Him…
    • So Jesus (God Almighty) was brought bound – to be judged before Pontius Pilate…
    • The Roman Governor of the province of Judea from AD 26-36…
  • The Jewish leaders made 4 accusations against Jesus… vs. 2-3
    • 1^st – They accused Jesus of claiming to be the Son of God – John 19:7
      • This accusation that was true – Jesus did not claim to be God – He was God!
      • When Pilate heard this he was fearful – and for good reason!
      • Pilate was not sitting in judgment of Jesus – Pilate was sitting before his judge!
      • People need Jesus – one day they will all ‘stand’ before Him – Philippians 2:10-11
      • And unless they confess – repent – and accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord…
      • They will have to stand before Jesus and be judged for all their sins…
      • That is why we tell anyone/ everyone about the Good news of the Gospel!
    • 2^nd – They accused Jesus of perverting the nation…
      • Jesus had gathered a VERY large following from all over Israel…
      • They accused Jesus’ teachings of being contrary to the best interests of Rome…
      • Because He was teaching about the Kingdom of God – not the kingdom of Rome…
      • But their real problem was Jesus was not teaching the people THEIR religion…
      • When we tell people about the Good News – tell people about Jesus…
      • They often accuse us of trying to mislead them / change their religion…
      • But we are not preaching a message of religion – we are talking about relationship…
      • We are preaching a message of salvation – through knowing Jesus Christ!
    • 3^rd – They accused Jesus of forbidding others to pay Roman taxes…
      • The Jewish leaders had asked Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar – Mark 12:16-17
      • But Jesus’ answer had been to take a Roman coin – with Caesars image on it…
      • Give to Caesar the things that are his – but give to God the things that are God’s…
      • They lied in an attempt to discredit Jesus – keep others from listening to Him…
      • Matthew 23:13 – “You will not let others enter the kingdom of heaven, and you will not go in yourselves.”
      • Religion keeps people from knowing Jesus – keeps them out of heaven -…
      • They trust in their traditions and rituals to save them rather than Jesus…
      • They can become so invested in their religion – a relationship Jesus threatens them
      • And they will lie to discredit – anyone who dares to question what they believe!
    • 4^th – They accused Jesus of making Himself King…
      • This was a very serious accusation – it was punishable by death…
      • At this Pilate took Jesus aside into his palace – to interrogate Him – John 18:33-38…
      • There Pilate asked Jesus – ‘Are you the King of the Jews’…
      • John 18:36-38–“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
      • Jesus was not here to set up His Kingdom – He was here to save men from sin!
      • We are not here to get others to come to our church – build our kingdom…
      • We are here to tell people about Jesus – get them into heaven!
    • Pilate came back and said to the leaders – ‘I find not fault in this man’…
      • The leaders were all the more determined for Pilate to convict Jesus…
      • They accused Jesus of stirring up people all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem…
      • When Pilate heard Galilee – he asked and found out Jesus was from the Galilee…
      • He sent Jesus to Herod (the ruler of the Galilee) in Jerusalem – to be Jesus’ judge…
      • When you preach Jesus – not religion – people will not be able to argue with you…
      • Because you are not giving your opinion – you are giving them the Word of God!

• But what they can do is put off the decision – ‘talk about this some other time’…
• The problem is God does not guarantee anyone tomorrow!

• Right now is the time to believe – to receive the free gift/grace of God!
• II Corinthians 6:2 – “Today is the day of salvation…”

Not following the crowd – but taking a stand for Jesus!

2^nd – Entertained – Jesus before Herod… vs. 8-12

Herod Antipas – the son of Herod the great…

The same Herod who had married Herodias – the wife of his brother Philip…

John the Baptist apposed the adulterous marriage  – Matthew 14:1 / Mark 6:14

Herod had John arrested – and subsequently beheaded – at the request of his ‘wife’…

Herod was VERY ‘happy’ to see Jesus…

He had heard all about the ministry of Jesus – the miracles He had performed…

He was hoping Jesus would do a miracle for him – like an entertainment show…

There are many people who come to church today seeking to be entertained…

They want the worship to be like a concert / the pastor to tell funny jokes…

They want to come out of the service with a smile on their face – happy…

But church is not a theatre or a show / it is a place to hear the truth even if it hurts…

The cross is not entertaining – it is not fun to think of God suffering for our sins!

Church is a place where sin is confronted – sinners are saved by the power of the cross!

Herod questioned Jesus with many words…

And the chief priests jumped in – making all their accusations again…

Yet Jesus answered nothing – He had no answers for Herod’s questions…

Often times people come away from church / reading their Bibles empty…

They think that the Bible had no answers to their questions…

But the problem was not the Bible – the problem was the questions being asked…

The Bible does not tell us how to get rich in life – it tells us how to get to heaven!

If we come with the right questions – we will find all the answers we need!

Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus…

They put a gorgeous purple robe on Jesus – a sign of royalty….

But they were not honoring Jesus – they were dressing Him up to mock Him…

Because Jesus would not entertain/answer them – they made fun of Jesus

People often choose to make fun of Jesus / church – as if life is all just a joke…

The problem is their laughing is very short lived…

Having finished their ‘fun’ – they sent Jesus back to Pilate…

Pilate and Herod had been at odds with each other – enemies…

But after this day – after the trial of Jesus – they became friends…

The best way for us to feel good about our sin – is to hang out with other sinners…

Because they do the same things we do – we do not feel as bad / convicted…

On judgment day we will stand alone – accountable for every word / action / thought

3^rd – Following the crowd – Jesus before the multitudes… vs. 13-23

Pilate called together the chief priests / leaders of Israel…

He rehearsed their accusation of Jesus – ‘one who misleads the people of Israel’…

But having examined Jesus – Pilate found nothing worthy of death…

He sent him to Herod – and he found not crime worthy of death…

So Pilate would ‘punish’ Jesus (to pacify the leaders) and then release Him…

Pilate had a custom of releasing a prisoner for the Passover festival…

In an act of good will – and celebration – he would release Jesus…

But the people cried out – ‘Away with Jesus – release Barabbas!’

Barabbas was a rebel/robber/and murderer – John 18:40

He was guilty of everything they accused Jesus of – and more!

Pilate wanted to release Jesus – so he offered Him again…

But the people kept on shouted out – ‘Crucify Him – crucify Him!’

The crowd whom days earlier had cried out – Hosanna – now wanted Jesus dead…

The reason – they were just following the crowd – not matter where it led…

We often do what others do – because everyone else is doing the same thing…

It is always a wise question to ask – whom am I following – where are they going…

Matthew 15:14 – “If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

When we follow the crowd – we can easily be led the wrong way…

Following Jesus means that you do not ‘go with the flow’ – you stand out…

If no one else goes to church – if no one else wants to do what is right…

Are we still willing to follow Christ – stand up for the truth…

Pilate questions the people – what evil has Jesus done…

Pilate was convinced of Jesus’ innocence – further he had been warned by his wife…

She had a dream – have nothing to do with that righteous man – Matthew 27:19

The crowd’s answer – they kept crying out even louder – CRUCIFY!

John 19:15 – “Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar!’”

The world cannot give a good reason why they do not want Jesus – the Bible – Church

Because they don’t want to admit the real reason – they want their sin – John 3:19

If we seek to please the world – follow the crowd – go with the flow…

We are chose this world rather than Jesus – it means we reject Jesus – James 4:4

4^th – Afraid to stand up – Jesus before Pilate… vs. 24-25

Pilate washed his hands – Matthew 27:24

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent – he knew he should stand up for Christ…

But instead Pilate washed his hands of Jesus innocent blood…

Symbolic – but not true – Pilate was accountable for his actions…

He chose to please the crowds – rather than do what he knew was right…

Pilate released Barabbas – and delivered Jesus to be crucified…

There is no difference – the ones who reject Jesus – the ones who stand and do nothing

There is no middle ground – you either stand for Jesus – or stand for this world…

If we are not willing to stand up for Jesus – be bold for the Lord…

Luke 12:8 – “He who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

4 different groups – 4 different reactions…

The leaders argued religion / Herod looked to be entertained…

The multitudes cried out crucify / and Pilate would not take a stand…

But the only way to be saved is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ…

Coming to the Word / Church – willing to ask the hard questions – deal with sin…