What Will You Do With Jesus?
Matthew 26:47-56
Albert B. Simpson wrote an old hymn that asks a very important question, it says:
"What will you do with Jesus?"
"Neutral you cannot be"
"Someday your heart will be asking"
“What will He do with me?”
Each person here has made or will make a decision concerning Jesus Christ. You will accept Him, or you will reject Him. As Simpson's hymn states "Neutral you cannot be".
The Bible records many people's decisions as to what they would do with Christ. We read where Peter, James, John, Andrew, Thomas, Mary, Martha, Zacchaeus, Paul and many others chose to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. At Pentecost over 3,000 people chose to accept Jesus. A blind man named Bartemaus chose to trust in Jesus. In Acts an Ethiopian eunuch trusted Christ as Savior. Throughout history untold millions have made the decision to accept Jesus. Many of you have decided to follow Jesus. But throughout the years many have rejected Him. John 1:11 tells us that the Jews rejected Him as Messiah - "He came unto His own and His own received Him not". The gospels record the fact that many Pharisees and Sadducees rejected Him. A "Rich Young Ruler" chose his possessions over a relationship with the Son of God. There were 2 other men being crucified at Calvary, one on either side of Jesus. One of those men chose to accept Jesus, while the other chose to reject Him.
On the day Christ was crucified, Pontus Pilate posed a question to the crowd that had gathered...."Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" (Matthew 27:22) That crowd rejected Jesus... "They said unto him, Let him be crucified."
That crowd made a decision that day that they will regret eternally. My prayer is that you will not make the same mistake. I am here to tell you that you have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
As we examine our selected text we will see that there were several people who made different decisions as to how they would respond to Jesus on the evening before the Crucifixion.
i. Many Rejected Him
ii. One Defended Him
iii. One Betrayed Him
iv. Several Abandoned Him
Ultimately my prayer is that someone here would learn from the mistakes of Judas, the crowd and even the Disciples of the Lord. As we walk through these verses I want to ask you this question "What Will You Do With Jesus?"
This passage of scripture records one of the most tragic events in history. Jesus has been praying intensely in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had asked some of His closest friends to watch and pray, but they are now fast asleep. Now, one of His own disciples, a man who had traveled with Him for 3 years arrives with a band of soldiers to arrest Him. This crowd shows up with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus. They had been sent by the Chief Priests and the Elders. These were people who rejected Jesus as Messiah.
- As we seek to answer the question "What Will You do With Jesus?", let me ask you:
I. WILL YOU REJECT JESUS? -v47 and while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
By this point Jesus was no stranger to rejection. He was rejected at His birth and throughout His entire life. He was rejected by the Jews and Gentiles. Unfortunately the world still rejects Jesus today! Some believe that the story of Christ is a myth or a fairytale. Others would tell you that there are “many ways to Heaven”.
There are also some who actually believe that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life”. They have had ample opportunity to respond positively to His offer of salvation. Yet they continue to reject Him time and time again. My friend, if you continue to reject Jesus Christ you are in danger of eternal condemnation. If you are without Christ you are lost in your sins. Scripture says that you are dead in your trespasses and sins! You are headed for judgment. Even worse you are headed for an eternity in the Lake of Fire. And your only hope of escape is to surrender to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Will You Accept Him today, or will you continue to reject Him?
- As we dig a little deeper, I would like to ask you another important question:
II. WILL YOU BETRAY JESUS?
The word "betrayal" will forever be linked with Judas Iscariot. Verses 48-50 tell us why. Notice - v48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
You can tell the Devil was working behind the scenes in this event. What a devious plot! Not only would Judas betray Jesus but he would do so with a kiss! All for a mere 30 pieces of silver, which is estimated to be about 4 months wage.
Let's take a moment and consider the life Judas had lived: Here is man who was numbered with the other disciples. He had traveled with them… talked with them … lived with them! People recognized him as one of Christ’s followers. When it came time to betray Christ, Judas knew exactly where to find Him! He had been with Jesus and the others in this place several times before. Judas had witnessed the character and compassion of Christ. He heard Jesus’ words and saw His works. Judas knew the plan of salvation! Judas could have been saved but he was focused on the earthly instead of the eternal.
There are some of you who, like Judas, live lives filled with contradictions. You appear to have honorable intentions. You seem to care about the work of the ministry. You play the game, talk the talk and in many ways walk the walk, but eventually your true colors will be revealed. One day you will stand before the Christ you professed to know and you will hear the dreadful words “…Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels”
Judas knew how to talk the talk and for many years he walked the walk, but in the end he betrayed Christ and he died and went to Hell! You may know what to say and what not to say. You may know where to go and where not to go. You may know what to do and what not to do. You may have been baptized, you may be on a church role, you may attend every time the doors are open, but if you have never truly surrendered to the Savior, you are going to die lost in your sins. You are going to find yourself in a place "where the fire is never quenched and the worm dieth not!" Are you certain of your salvation? If not, I beg you to make things right while there is still time!
- As we continue to examine the question "What Will You Do With Jesus", I would like to ask a question to those of you who have been saved:
III. WILL YOU DEFEND JESUS? - v51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. 52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
As that mob surrounded Jesus, some of His closest followers were there. I would imagine that the disciples were furious at Judas for betraying their Master. Certainly they were devastated at the thought of Him being seized and arrested. And (as usual) Peter decided to take matters into his own hands. He grabs his sword and cuts off the “servant of the high priest’s ear” . In Luke’s Gospel we read that Jesus reached down and put the man’s ear back on the man. Jesus rebuked Peter for this act - v52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. - Peter had the best intentions but he went about things the wrong way. But I think we can learn from Peter's passion. We should not sit back and allow our Savior to be attacked. We should stand up for Jesus.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Stand in his strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you,
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
Each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger,
Be never wanting there.
Jesus is under attack in America today we must take a stand and defend our faith. Today, more than ever we need Christians who will stand up for Jesus! We should be courageous, we should be bold, we should be biblical, and we must put on the whole armor of God. The victory has already been one and we are on the winning side. Remember what Paul said in - Romans 8:31 If God be for us, who can be against us?
Persecution and opposition will continue to increase. May we be willing to defend Jesus!
- As we move on, let us consider a 4th question:
IV. WILL YOU UNDERESTIMATE JESUS? -v53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
After Jesus rebuke’s Peter, He goes on to explain the great power at His disposal. He said “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for 12 legions of angels?”
A legion consisted of 6,000, so Jesus is saying that He could call more than 72,000 angels if He desired. Though He had this power, He refused to use it because He sought to glorify the Father Who sent Him. Listen to what Jesus said in - John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
Jesus didn’t call the legions of angels because the scriptures must be fulfilled! Jesus didn’t call the legions of angels because of His love for you and me! Jesus didn’t call the legions of angels in order to save us from our sins! I think it is safe to say that Peter underestimated the power of his Master. Many times we do the same thing...we underestimate the power of Jesus. We look at the condition of the world around us and wring our hands and say “Oh no, what are we going to do?”
Things are on a rapid downward spiral and sometimes we feel that we have no hope. We have a tendency to look at the problem instead of looking at the POWER OF THE SAVIOR! In Luke 21:28 Jesus was speaking about the end times and He said "when these things come to pass look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
Things are bad... and they are going to get much worse, but Jesus said ...LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR EYES, YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH!!!
Don't forget His promises, remember that He is all powerful and everywhere at all times. Whatever may come your way, it is not bigger than your God! Don't underestimate His power
If you will look with me to verses 55-56 there is one last question I would like to ask you:
V. WILL YOU ABANDON JESUS? - v55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
Notice verse 56 where it says “Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled”. Judas has betrayed Jesus and now the rest of the disciples flee in fear. Peter just cut a man’s ear off defending Jesus and now he is gone away and soon will deny Him 3 times. John, The devoted apostle of Love is gone. Andrew, James, Thomas, Thaddeus and the others are nowhere to be found.
These men had spent 3 years watching miracle after miracle. They had heard the preaching and teaching of Jesus. They had seen him cast out demons, heal the sick and cleanse lepers. They had even seen Him raise people from the dead... but now feared for their lives. Things got tough and they abandoned their Master!
Jesus told them that this would happen back in v1 {Jesus said} All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
Jesus experienced the most horrific agony that any man has ever faced, and His closest friends abandoned Him! My friend, I want you to know that everything Jesus faced, He faced for you.
Being betrayed by Judas, being denied by Peter being rejected by the crowds, all of it was for you! The false trial, the mocking, the scourging, and the pain of the cross... it was all for you! Jesus sacrificed His life to save you from your sins, He did what He did to deliver you from Hell. He has gone to prepare you a home in Heaven. He loved you in spite of all that you have done. Will you abandon Him when things get rough? Better yet, have you already abandoned Him?
Many people proclaim to be devoted to Christ and then when tragedy happens or persecution begins they walk away from Him. Jesus didn’t walk away from God’s plan when we faced such agony in the Garden. He didn’t call that legion of angels to deliver Him. Though all the disciples left Him, He persevered, He faced everything He faced in order to secure out redemption!
Each person here today must now make a choice. You must choose how you will respond to Jesus' offer of salvation.
The Christian must decide "What Will You Do With Jesus?"
Will You Defend Him?
Will You Underestimate Him?
Will You Abandon Him?
- The Non-Christian must decide "What Will You Do With Jesus?"
Will You Reject Him or Will You Accept Him?
You cannot remain neutral... you will make a choice one way or another before you leave here today. I encourage you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Again I ask, "What Will You Do With Jesus?"
