Preached June 28, 2009
from
Matthew 27:27-31

Theme: Everyone who encounters Jesus must make a decision about Him.

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)

This morning, we continue our study of the Gospel of Matthew. And we come to the most famous ‘trial’ in all of human history. It’s the story of when Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate—just before being given over to crucifixion.

And given the identity of the One who was standing before Him, it was actually Pilate who was the one on trial!

Matthew writes;

Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified (Matthew 27:11-26).

Pay special attention to the words of verse 22. They are the reason why I suggest that it was really Pilate who was ultimately on trial rather that our Lord. Pilate said, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

In Pilate’s case, the question was a matter of expediency. And yet—unwittingly—he illustrates for all time a spiritual reality that every man, woman, and young person must experience when they encounter Jesus Christ as He really is: They must decide what they are going to do with Him. Shall they accept Him for who He claims to be? Shall they reject Him as a blasphemer and a liar? Shall they try to ignore Him? Shall they pretend that He’s something that He’s not?

The life that He was said to have lived, the claims He made concerning Himself, the miracles that it was said He performed—all of these things absolutely require that everyone who encounters Him must respond to Him. He puts everyone at the crossroads of a decision. They must answer the question, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

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As we walk through the story of Pilate’s encounter with Him, we learn that there’s certain things you can’t do with Jesus Christ. For one thing . . .

1. YOU CAN’T IGNORE THE CLAIMS ABOUT HIM (v. 11).

He claimed to be the long-awaited Jewish Messiah that the Old Testament Scriptures had prophetically promised would come. That was why the Jewish leaders had condemned Him to death in the first place. Just a few hours prior, the high priest had asked Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And Jesus answered, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven” (26:63-64).

What do you do with someone who says a thing like that about themselves? And yet, just think of how the things Jesus said about Himself conformed to the promises in the Old Testament about the Messiah. The Scriptures promised that the Messiah—the one would would be the blessing of all the world—would be born of the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3); and Jesus was the Son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1). The Scriptures promised that “the King of the Jews”—the One who would be the Savior of the world—would be born of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10); and Jesus was of the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1:3). The Scriptures promised that the Messiah would be born of the lineage of King David (2 Samuel 7:12); and Jesus was the Son of David (Matthew 1:1).

We’re told that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), and Jesus was born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:20-23). We’re told that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); and that was Jesus’ birthplace (Matthew 2:1). We’re told that He would shine as a light in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2); and Jesus grew up in Nazareth of Galilee (Matthew 2:22-23). We’re told of the specific time in history that the Messiah would be born—some four-hundred and fifty years after the command was given in the time of Daniel to rebuild the temple (Daniel 9:25); and Jesus born at that time (see Galatians 4:4). We’re told that the Messiah’s arrival would be announced by an Elijah-like prophet (Malachi 4:5); and John the Baptist was that very prophet (Matthew 3:4; 11:14; 17:11-13). We’re told that, when the Messiah came, the eyes of the blind would be opened, and that the ears of the deaf unstopped, and that the lame would leap, and that the tongue of the dumb would sing (Isaiah 35:6); and these were miracles that Jesus performed publicly (Matthew 11:4-5).

Jesus claimed to be the promised Messiah—the long-awaited King of Israel. And His life substantiated His claim. And so, we read in verse eleven, “Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you say.’”

Jesus’ claim concerning Himself is either true or it isn’t. And that, in a very real sense, is exactly what Pilate had to come to terms with. Everyone else must come to terms with it. You and I must come to terms with it.

* * * * * * * * * *

So, this passage shows us that one thing you cannot do with Jesus is ignore the claims that are made about Him. Everyone who encounters Him must make a decision of what you will do with this One whom the Bible testifies to be the King of the Jews, God in human flesh, and the Judge of all the earth.

And this fact about Jesus leads us to another reason why no one can help making a decision about Him. Given who He claimed to be . . .

2. YOU CAN’T HELP BUT MARVEL AT HIM (vv. 12-14).

We’re told that “while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing” (v. 12). The charges that were being made against Him were extremely serious. And yet—just as was the case when He was being accused before the high priest earlier, “Jesus kept silent” (26:63).

What were those charges? Luke tells us in his Gospel that the chief priests and elders of the people were saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King” (Luke 23:2); and that “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place” (v. 5). Though it was true that He was a King, none of the other charges about Him were true; and Pilate knew it. Jesus had already confessed to Pilate that He was a King; but He also said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Jesus’ kingdom was spiritual in nature. He was not making the claim that He was—somehow—a rival to Caesar. He was not, in any way, guilty of acting in revolt against the Roman government.

But what astonished Pilate the most was Jesus’ response to these charges. As governor, he had sat in judgment over many trials. And he knew that whenever a man was being charged with capital crimes—even if he were guilty of them—he’d still plead his case and challenge the charges that were made against him. But this was no ordinary Man standing before him. Pilate knew that the charges were false; and yet, Jesus answered nothing. “Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?’ But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly” (vv. 13-14).

Now; I have to say that I’m glad Jesus said nothing. He had no intention of defending Himself and saving His life. His purpose in coming into this world was to die on the cross for you and me. As the Bible says elsewhere of Him, “He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).

We too should marvel at Jesus’ silence; because it was out of love for us that He remained silent. But Pilate understood nothing of that love. He simply marveled at Jesus’ silence—and at His seeming willingness to be put to death when He was clearly innocent.

Again; you and I can’t walk away from an encounter with Jesus without making some kind of a decision about Him. No one who truly looks at such a Person as Him can help but marvel at Him.

* * * * * * * * * *

Another thing that Pilate’s encounter with Jesus illustrates for us is that you can’t avoid Him by replacing Him with someone else. Someone who only looks upon Him superficially may think so. But if you look at Him closely, and truly encounter Him as the Scriptures present Him, you find that . . .

3. YOU CAN’T SET ANOTHER IN HIS PLACE (vv. 15-18).

Pilate tried. We read that “at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished” (v. 15). Such a prisoner was—it seemed—someone from among the Jewish people whom the Roman government had a particular interest in detaining. And in order to occasionally appease the Jews, Pilate would typically give them a ‘gift’ on Passover of releasing a prisoner that they requested. And it just so happened that he had a very noteworthy prisoner named “Barabbas” (v. 16).

Now understand; it wasn’t Pilate’s intention that Barabbas be released. Barabbas was, as far as the Roman government was concerned, a notoriously bad criminal! John tells us that he was a “robber” (John 18:40). Luke tells us that he was thrown into prison “for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder” (Luke 23:19). And what’s more, he was part of a gang of thieves and murderers. Mark tells us that he was chained with a group of fellow rebels because “they had committed murder in the rebellion” (Mark 15:7).

It’s interesting to note that, in some ancient texts of Matthew’s Gospel, Barabbas’ name is given as “Jesus Barabbas”. And if that’s the case, then Pilate had what he might have thought was a very clever solution. He would offer to release a prisoner; and he would narrow the choice down to just these two. They could pick which “Jesus” they wanted released: “Jesus Barabbas” or “Jesus who is called Christ”. And of course, he was certain that they’d never pick Barabbas—a vile criminal who was clearly worthy of death.

So; we’re told that, “when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy” (vv. 17-18). But what a shock it must have been when they, nevertheless, chose Barabbas for release—and chose Jesus for death!

Now; I don’t want inappropriately ‘spiritualize’ these words. But I can’t help thinking what a remarkable spiritual illustration they give us! The righteous Son of God has come into the world to die for our sins; and that fact obligates each one of us to do something with Him. His very identity demands that He be trusted, and followed, and obeyed. But haven’t people been trying to replace Him with someone else ever since? They’ll chose this religious figure over Him, or that philosopher over Him, or that celebrity over Him. In some traditions of Christendom, some people are accustomed to replacing Him with Mary, or one of the saints. Some people are so hardened in their sin that, if they have no other choice, they’ll even pick notorious sinners for themselves rather than bow down to the righteous Son of God!

One of the things we learn from Pilate’s experience is that you can’t replace Him with someone else. You must make a decision of what you will do with Him!

* * * * * * * * * *

Then, along came Pilate’s wife. And through her, we also learn that once you encounter Jesus Christ as He really is . . .

4. YOU CAN’T KEEP FROM THINKING OF HIM (v. 19).

There was clearly something about Jesus. Pilate’s wife had heard about Him; and He was much on her mind. Apparently, she was kept up all night by a dream about Him. Whether this was a natural dream or something that was given her from God, we’re not told. But when morning came, we’re told that she was so affected by the dream that she was willing to interrupt her husband in the midst of his work in order to give him a warning. “While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him’” (v. 19).

I suspect that this added greatly to Pilate’s already-frustrating pressure over this whole situation. But it also illustrates for us that once you find out about Jesus—once you encounter the truth that the Bible presents about Him—you can’t just walk away from it all. You can’t stop thinking about Him. The Holy Spirit keeps on whispering the truth about Him in your ear, “Don’t you see who He is? Will you turn to Him? Will you trust Him? What will you do with Jesus?”

* * * * * * * * * *

Just as you can’t stop thinking about Him after an encounter with Him as He really is, neither can you be neutral about Him. You will either love Jesus, or hate Him. You will either be drawn to Jesus, or reject Him. This passage also illustrates to us that . . .

5. YOU CAN’T STAY INDIFFERENT ABOUT HIM (vv. 20-23).

The chief priests and the elders of the people anticipated that Pilate would offer to release a prisoner to them. And because Barabbas had committed murder in an act of rebellion against the Romans, it probably wasn’t hard to convince the crowd that he was acting out of patriotism when he did so. So, “they persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus” (v. 20).

So; when the governor asked the crowd, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” (v. 21). And so, “Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’” And do you notice that they didn’t say, “Whatever you think best, sir”? No! “They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’ Then the governor said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But no reason is given. Instead, they all cried out all the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified!’” (vv. 22-23). They didn’t ask that He be sent away into exile. They didn’t ask that He be kept in prison. They didn’t even ask that they be permitted to stone Him. They asked for the most gruesome and cruel form of execution that the Roman government would allow—reserved only for the most notorious criminals. They demanded crucifixion.

And again, here’s another spiritual lesson about Jesus. Once you come to understand what the Bible says about Him—once you really understand who He is presented to be—it’s absolutely impossible to remain indifferent about Him. You have to decide which side of the question you’re on. You will either run to Him or run from Him. You will either embrace Him or reject Him. You will either love Him or hate Him.

Jesus Himself said so. He took away all neutrality when He said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30).

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Another thing His encounter with Jesus illustrates for us is that . . .

6. YOU CAN’T WASH YOUR HANDS OF HIM (v. 24).

Pilate saw that he was not prevailing with the crowd. Instead, he began to see that a tumult was rising. He didn’t wish to put Jesus to death; because Jesus was a Man with whom he could find no fault. And yet, he saw that the crowd was dangerously determined to see Jesus dead.

And so, Pilate lost his nerve as a governor. He resorted to a pathetic act of avoidance. He called for water, washed his hands before the multitude as a symbolic act of disassociating himself from the crucifixion, and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it” (v. 24).

But it didn’t work. No amount of water would ever wash away his association with Jesus. Later on, after Jesus was raised from the dead, the gathered Christians would pray to God and say, “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done” (Acts 4:27-28). And throughout the following centuries, countless numbers of Christians have taken the Apostolic Creed as their confession of faith—which says, among other things, that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate”.

If what the Bible says of Jesus is true, then He’s not Someone that anyone can simply wash their hands of. Each of us must make a decision of what we will do with Him. We may try to wash our hands of Him now—but we will not be able to avoid Him on the day of judgment.

* * * * * * * * * *

This leads us to a final thing this passage illustrates for us; and that is that . . .

7. YOU CAN’T REMAIN INNOCENT BEFORE HIM (vv. 25-26).

One of the most dreadful curses that anyone has ever uttered was the curse that the mob before Pilate uttered on themselves. Pilate said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person”; and Matthew writes, “And all the people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children’” (v. 25). And with that, Barabbas was released to them; and after Pilate brutally scourged Jesus, he delivered Him over to be crucified.

Sadly, many people in history have taken these words as justification for great atrocities against the Jewish people. I believe that any person or group who has persecuted the Jewish people on this basis were doing a great evil—and what’s more, they were daring to touch the apple of God’s eye (Deuteronomy 32:10)!

And let’s also remember a few other things. Let’s remember that it wasn’t just the Jewish people who crucified our Lord. It was also the Gentiles who did so. We are all guilty of His blood, because we are all the sinners that He died to save. Let’s also remember that all of the apostles were Jewish, and the early church was all Jewish. Let’s remember that the teaching of the Bible is that, when the Jewish people are truly restored to faith in their precious Messiah, it will be as life from the dead for this world (Romans 11:15). It’s God’s plan that it one day happen—and this dreadful curse that the Jewish people before Pilate spoke against themselves will not stop it from being so.

And let me add one more thought to the words of this curse concerning Jesus’ blood—as dreadful as that curse is. I desperately needed that blood that Jesus shed on the cross to atone for my own sins. I am utterly guilty before a holy God; and yet, it is His precious blood washes me clean in God’s sight. And so I say those words for myself today, but with an entirely different intention. I pray, “His blood be upon me! His blood be upon my children!”

* * * * * * * * * *

Well; here’s what the Bible says you can’t do with Him. You can’t ignore the claims about Him. You can’t help but marvel at Him. You can’t set another in His place. You can’t help thinking of Him. You can’t stay indifferent toward Him. You can’t wash your hands of Him. And when all is said and done, you can’t claim to be innocent before Him.

But what can you do with Him? Thankfully, the Bible tells us that also.

Not long after Pilate’s encounter with Jesus—after He was raised from the dead, many of these same people before Pilate heard Peter preach a powerful message to them—saying, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit convicted them of the truth about Jesus. It says, “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’” (v. 37). And then, Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (vv. 38-39).

Repent of disbelief, and be baptized in Jesus’ name as a public confession that you have placed your faith in Him—that’s the answer to that great question, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”