Matthew 27:22

PILATE’S QUESTION

‘Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?’

Matthew 27:22

‘What shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?’ Pilate in his relation to Christ is typical of many to-day.

I. The expression of a miserable indecision.—Many a man face to face with Christ and religion is the subject of conflicting feelings, is restless, agitated, a prey to the wretchedness of indecision; seeing the beauty of religion, yet fearing to embrace it.

II. An attempted evasion of responsibility.—Throughout the history of Christianity, while granting the greater guilt of priest and Pharisee, Pilate stands responsible for the crucifixion of Christ. Personal responsibility can never be resigned. Others may influence us, the circumstances of life may affect us, but our conduct towards Christ is our own.

III. The declaration of a felt necessity.—A decision is necessary. He must release or condemn. We have to do with Christ. We cannot separate ourselves from Him. We cannot stand apart from Him. We must do something with Jesus which is called Christ.

IV. The precursor of a speedy and fatal decision.—The man who refuses to do what he knows to be right will end in doing what he knows to be wrong. In a little while the decision was declared. The voices of the chief priests and of the multitudes prevailed, and he delivered Jesus to be crucified.’

(SECOND OUTLINE)

THE RIGHT ANSWER

‘What shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?’ Let me try to tell you what I think is the right way to answer this question.

I. Listen to Him.—Pilate asked, What is truth? and never waited for an answer (St. John 18:38). Even our Lord’s enemies confessed, ‘Never man spake like this Man’ (St. John 7:46). His Words are living Words (St. John 6:63). Unchanging, empires rise and fall, but these remain.

II. Come to Him. (See Illustration.)

III. Live for Him.—If you have felt the magic touch of His grace, you will wish and long to live for Christ. He asks us not to die for Him, but to live for Him.

—The Rev. F. Harper.

Illustration

‘There was kneeling one day in the church a poor collier lad, some ten or twelve years of age. His hair was rough, his clothes were worn and ragged, his feet were bare. His hands were clenched as in prayer—a sad, wistful look was on his face. I knelt by his side: “I want to be good,” he said, “I want to belong to the Saviour; but I could trust Him if only I could be sure that He loves me.” His had been a hard life in the world, poor heart; how shall I convince him of the fact of the love of God? I spoke to him of friends and playmates: “Is there any one you know who would, if need be, die for you?” He was silent as I pressed the question. “Is there one you have ever known who, if you had to die, would be willing to die in your stead to save you?” A moment’s silence, and then with a sweet smile he looked up and said, “I believe my mother would.” In that brief pause he had looked back on life and measured a mother’s love. Perhaps there passed before his mind the vision of her toil late at night to mend his clothes, or earn to-morrow’s bread, and, convinced of the reality of a mother’s love, his heart told him it could be strong unto death. “Then see what Jesus has done”; and I spoke to him of the bleeding Hands and Feet of the Crucified. He bowed his face into his hands as he said, “I can love Him back again, and trust Him too.” That is coming to Christ.’