What Shall I Do with Jesus? A Timeless Question

In AD 31, Pontius Pilate, the Roman proconsul, stepped out from his palace to address a maddened crowd. Just moments earlier, his distraught wife had sent him an urgent message: "Have nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him." Pilate was not having a particularly good day. In fact, it might be fair to say that so far, Pilate was batting a big fat zero.

He had been woken up at a ridiculous hour by those demanding a trial and had miscalculated the crowd's hatred for the meek miracle worker. To top it all off, the governor had failed miserably at diffusing the uprising and negotiating a reasonable solution when the rabble vociferously refused to trade the life of the Galilean for the infamous murderer, Barabbas.

The Question That Echoes Through Time

Pilate began to get a sick feeling inside, a feeling that this was more than the ordinary bloodlust he had witnessed before. Mustering what he assumed to be a persuasive and authoritative tone, Pilate asked the crowd, "What, then, shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" To his credit, Pilate didn't waste time trying to sell them on other supposedly more important issues.

He didn't stand in front of them and say, "Hey, what do you say we all engage in some meaningful dialogue and figure out how the Jewish nation can better fit into this Roman Empire?" No, Pilate was dead wrong about many things that transpired that day, but he was absolutely right about one thing: "What then shall I do with Jesus?" was the issue on that fateful day, and it is still the issue today.

The Relevance of the Question Today

Nearly 2,000 years have passed since that historic moment, yet that question remains. Somehow, it often gets buried under a pile of vital key issues demanding our focus.

According to Statista 2024, the most pressing issues today are inflation, poverty, social inequality, crime, violence, unemployment, political corruption, healthcare, climate change, immigration, control, taxes, and education. Everyone has their list. The World Economic Forum, not surprisingly, has another list: misinformation, extreme weather events, social polarization, cyber insecurity, interstate armed conflict, lack of economic opportunity, inflation, involuntary migration, economic downturn, and pollution.

But in reality, the issue for each of us is the same today as it was in AD 31: What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36). "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John 17:3).

Why the Question Matters

In light of these powerful scriptures and many others, I need to ask you an important question: Why is "What are you going to do with Jesus?" not on those other lists? We live in a world where the issue of Jesus has been trivialized and minimized until it has practically become a "who cares" kind of thing.

The question about Jesus is not an "Oh, by the way" kind of question. The decision about Jesus is not a "ho-hum" kind of decision. No one says, "Yeah, I'm okay with Jesus." It's a galvanizing life-or-death decision. Jesus is not just the reason for the season. Jesus is the reason for every season.

The Historical and Spiritual Significance

About 2,000 years ago, Pontius Pilate stood in the presence of Jesus, the savior of the world, the dearly beloved Son of the Most High God. At some time prior to this face-to-face meeting, God's spirit had given Pilate's wife a message, which she, in a state of anxiety, relayed to her husband: "Have nothing to do with this just man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him." Sadly, Pilate ignored his wife's message.

Sadder still, he ignored the message that God was sending him. The message that God wanted Pilate to hear was that this man standing before him was not the normal criminal he had so often tried and sentenced to death. This man is my son, and he stood beside me while we created this world.

Jesus: The Eternal Focal Point

For 6,000 years of sinful Earth's history, Jesus has always been the true focal point. Jesus has always been the one and only answer. Jesus has always been the issue. I'm praying that you will believe with all your heart and follow with all your heart the Lord Jesus, for there is no other name under Heaven by which we must be saved. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The decision you make about Jesus is the most critical choice you will ever face. It transcends time, culture, and personal circumstances. It is the question that will determine your eternal destiny.

 So, what will you do with Jesus?

If you liked this post, please watch the entire video at: Jesus is the Issue.