It seems whether I’m just cleaning up or doing some serious rearranging, there is one question that begs answer. “What do I do with ‘this’?”
Stuffing it all into a box, I shove it onto the closet shelf and have my answer. Nothing.
Pontius Pilate had a similar, but much more serious, question at the trial of Jesus.
He could find no reason that Jesus should be punished; what was his crime? Nobody could offer an offense serious enough to warrant the punishment of death for this man. Never the less, the people were near riot frenzy demanding that Jesus be killed.
Then, there was Pilate’s wife and the dream she had concerning Jesus. She had sent a personal message to her husband, instructing him to “have nothing to do with this innocent man–.” (Matthew 27:19) No matter what decision Pilate made, he was in for a hard time. There was no way he could please the people while respecting the advice of his wife.
In a dramatic public demonstration, Pilate proclaimed that he had nothing more to do with it, let the people choose (Matthew 27:22). Finally, in the hope that he could just simply escape the responsibility of making a decision; he made the dramatic gesture of publically washing his hands (Matthew 27:24).
Having made the illustration of his stepping away from the responsibility altogether, he freed himself from any guilt that would be involved; or so he thought. Even though he made a big deal about not “making a decision,” he did decide. He chose the pretense of no decision over acknowledging Jesus as the Christ.
In our own lives, when pressed, we boldly declare we’d never deny Jesus! But our every day life often illustrates that we do the same thing Pilate did. No matter where we are, we make a moment by moment decision to recognize Jesus as Lord of our life, or —not.
From choosing to embrace the attitudes of the world to choosing to put the busyness of life before prayer and church attendance, we make a decision on what/who is Lord of our life.
We think that by not openly denying Christ, we relieve ourselves of responsibility. But, like Pilate, we’re answering the question with our actions. “What do I do with Jesus?” Nothing—- .
Matthew 10:33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Prayer: Father, I want to please you, help me to be sensitive to the voice of your Holy Spirit. Give me strength to choose your way with every decision I make. I love you and want to be a fruitful servant. Amen.
Scripture references:
Matthew 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
Matthew 27:22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”