Introduction:
In Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, one of Jesus biggest assets appears to be the Roman Prefect, Pilate.
A Pilate goes head to head with the religious leadership in defense of Christ.
a If Jesus was a self-professed King, then Pilate could kill him for treason.
b If Jesus isn’t a king, simply a trouble-maker, Pilate could flouge and release him, but Jesus wasn’t causing any trouble.
B Pilate did not know what to do with Jesus!!!!
a Pilate was not pacifist.
*Brought graven images into Jerusalem.
*Put soldiers in plan clothes and ambushed Jewish worshipers
13At that time, some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.Luke 13:1 (HCSB)
b Matt. 27.22-23
22 Pilate said* to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said*, "Crucify Him!" 23 And he said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they kept shouting all the more, saying, "Crucify Him!" Matt 27:22-23 (NASB)
C ETS: Pilate was forced to make a decision about Jesus.
a ESS: We all must decide what we are going to do to do about Jesus.
Objective: I hope you will chose to accept Jesus as your King.
b P.Q.: What are you doing about Jesus?
T.S.: Let’s look at two decisions Pilate made Jesus.
I Pilate made the decision to try to avoid making a decision about Jesus.
A Pilate was amazed at Jesus.
13 Then Pilate said* to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" 14 And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed. Matt 27:13-14 (NASB)
5 But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed. Mark 15:4-5 (NASB)
a Pilate was used to criminals pleading for their life, engaging in debate, refuting the charges, . . .Jesus didn’t defend himself. Pilate was AMAZED!
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. Isaiah 53:7 (NASB)
b Pilate was used to criminals trying to break free & escape, but Jesus didn’t. However, I see Pilate trying to escape from Jesus!
Three escape routes Pilate tried to take was through. . .
I Making Herod Agrippa decide about Jesus
6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man (Jesus) was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time. Luke 23:6-7 (NASB)
II Setting Barabbas free, (Picture of D.C. Sniper & Jesus)
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" Matt 27:15-17 (NASB)
III Beating Jesus and then releasing Him,
22 And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him." Luke 23:22 (NASB)
B Pilate isn’t the only one who tries avoid making a decision about Christ.
a There are three main ways people today try to escape. . .
I Beat the clock (I’ll do it when I get older)
II Convince themselves they’ve lived a moral life
III Join a church
b These are not escaping at all, a decision to beat the clock, etc. is a decision of rejection of Christ!
C When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.
T.S.: Pilate was accomplishing nothing in way of avoiding making a decision about Christ, but the crowd wouldn’t allow Pilate to escape without making one.
24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves." Matt 27:24 (NASB)
II Pilate made the decision to try and save himself.
A Pilate already had tried 3 times to avoid making a choice (Herod, Barrabas, beating), having accomplished nothing.
Pilate heard voices from two different places.
a Heart
38 "What is truth?" Pilate exclaimed. Then he went out again to the people and told them, "He is not guilty of any crime. John 18:38 (TLB)
21 But they kept shouting back, "Crucify! Crucify him!" 22 He tried a third time. "But for what crime? I’ve found nothing in him deserving death. I’m going to warn him to watch his step and let him go." Luke 23:21-22 (MSG)
*Pilate could not find anything wrong Jesus. Is some respects, Pilate was Jesus’ lawyer!
*Pilate’s heart was saying, "Let Jesus Live!!"
b Head
(If Pilate’s heart was saying, Let Jesus Live, his head was saying, Let Pilate Live!)
*What was Pilate trying to stop from happening in Jerusalem? RIOTS (Mt.27.24)
If he released Jesus, there would have been a revolt that would have made the L.A. riots look like Kenny Chesney concert. Gutters would have been running blood, bodies would have littered the streets . . .
*Pilate feared losing his job because he had already been reprimanded for his bloodlust for the jews, and had been given another chance. (Less riots, fewer uprisings, revolts) !!
*(He didn’t want to give up his palaces, power, paycheck, prestige, or position.)
*Did Pilate save himself? Yes he did.
25 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt 16:25-26 (NASB)
B What happens to people who save themselves?
a If you’re trying to save yourself today, stop trying. YOU CAN’T DO IT!!!
Your head is telling you . . .
*You’re a good person, live a moral life, you’ll make the eternal cut.
*Live the best life you can, all roads lead to God,
*One religion is no better than the next, we’re all trying to get to the same place,
b 12 Jesus is the only One who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save people. We must be saved through him." Acts 4:12 (NCV)
13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 (NIV)
*What does your heart say about these verses!!!
You know what happens to people who save themselves? They Go To Hell!!!
C
Conclusion:
Pilate was forced to make a decision about Jesus. We all must decide what we are going to do to do about Jesus.
A We looked at two decisions that Pilate made about Jesus.
a Pilate made the decision to try to avoid making a decision about Jesus.
(Jesus didn’t try to escape, but Pilate sure did!)
b Pilate made the decision to try and save himself. (Heart/Head)
B Obj.: I hope you will chose to accept Jesus as your King.
a Choice #1: You can put off making a decision about Jesus or you can make up your mind today.
b Choice #2: Continue to try & save yourself or you can let God to chose to save you today.
C What are you doing about Jesus?
a Last week, Charlin Durkee came in right after morning worship and wanted to talk to me. (I had about another twenty people to say good-bye to, but I’d be with her right after. Alright.)
*She told me her mom-in-law, Mickey Durkee had maybe two hours to two weeks to live, and would I go talk to her about faith in God. No problem. Do you want me to go now or be there around 2 o’clock? She said 2 is fine.
b Don and I went into the ICU waiting room & went into Mickey’s room.
*Her chest was rattling, fighting for air, breath . . .she recognized me. I had preached her son’s funeral a year ago.
*I got right to the point. Shared my personal testimony & asked her if anything like that had happened to her. She said, "No."
*I asked the same five questions I ask at the last 260 sermons I’ve preached . . .(Are you a sinner?, Do you want forgiveness of your sin?, Do you believe Jesus died on a cross, was buried, and rose again?, Are you willing to surrender your life to Christ?, and Are you ready to ask Jesus to be the King of your life?) and she said "yes" to every question. WE PRAYED!
*I annointed her head with oil, prayed with her, kissed her brow, and said, "Miss. Mickey, you’ll probably see heaven before I do, when you see me, I want you to come and love my neck. She said, "alright."
*On the way out of the hospital I saw Charline & family, prayed with them.
c On Monday, I went out to the hospital between 7:30 & 9:00 to check in on Ms. Mickey, and the ICU nurse said, "She died today @ 12:30." I said, "Good for her."
d She did something about Jesus. I’m going to get that hug!!
Mid-Invitation Plea:
Pilate tried washing his hands from Jesus. There wasn’t enough waters in all the world’s oceans to wash the blood from Pilate’s hands. He believed washing his hand would save him. The only way Pilate really could have saved himself, was to chose Jesus.
He couldn’t save himself, . . .and nether can we!
