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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…
- 1st – 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
- 1st – 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!
- 2nd – 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!
- 3rd – 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!
- 4th – 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!
- 1st – They accused Jesus of claiming to be the Son of God – John 19:7
- The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus – but they lacked the authority… vs. 1
- 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!
2nd – 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
3rd – 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
4th – 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…
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