Mark 15:7
The sermon highlights the importance of making a decision about Jesus Christ, and the consequences of rejecting Him.
Chuck Smith explores the pivotal moment when Pilate faced the decision of what to do with Jesus, highlighting the contrast between Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and Barabbas, a violent insurrectionist. He emphasizes that Pilate's choice to appease the crowd led to a tragic violation of his own conscience and desires, ultimately making him the judged rather than the judge. Smith challenges the congregation to confront the same question Pilate faced: 'What shall I do with Jesus?' and warns against allowing societal pressures to dictate their decisions about Christ.
Text
Intro: 2,000 years ago a Roman judge faced the hardest decision of his
life. What to do with Jesus. He knew Jesus was innocent, thus he
was torn between the pressure of his own conscience and the
clamoring mob.
I. PILATE'S DECISION, JESUS OR BARABBAS.
A. We know who Jesus was, the Son of God.
1. He is the Prince of Peace.
2. He is the fulfillment of the law.
3. He is love incarnate.
B. We know little of Barabbas except:
1. He was a man of violence, insurrection.
2. He was a lawbreaker.
3. He was a murderer, filled with hate.
C. Pilate let the crowd decide and they choose.
1. War over peace.
a. In last 3,000 years of man's history fewer than
130 years when no war.
b. During our lifetime we have not been free.
2. Lawlessness over the law.
a. That choice still being made.
b. Crime has become national plague of epidemic
proportions.
3. Hate over love.
a. Chose to be ruled by baser passions.
4. The crowd is not always right.
II. PILATE'S QUESTION: "WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS WHO IS CALLED THE
CHRIST?"
A. Suddenly our scene changes.
1. No longer 32 A.D. it's 1974.
2. No longer Palestine in Santa Ana.
3. No longer in Roman Court in Calvary Chapel.
4. No longer Pilate's decision, your decision.
B. This question must be faced by every man.
1. You ultimately must judge Jesus Christ.
a. Is He the Son of God or Mary's illegitimate
child?
b. Will you receive Him or reject Him?
c. Will you confess Him or deny Him?
C. It seems that it is always Jesus or--
1. If you reject Him as Savior, what are you looking to?
2. If you reject His lordship, what are you allowing to
master you?
a. Hate, greed, violence, money, intellect,
pleasure?
III. PILATE'S TRAGIC DECISION, VERSE 15.
A. Violation of his own conscience.
1. He had testified, "I find no fault in Him."
B. Violation of his own desire.
1. He really did not want to do it, yet he did.
C. Why would a man violate his own conscience and desire to commit
such a hemous crime?
1. "Pilate willing to content the people."
a. The crowd is not always right.
b. The crowd is many times stupidly wrong.
c. Your crowd may be wrong and to follow its
influence may damn your soul.
2. Seeking to be accepted by the crowd led him to be
rejected by God.
IV. THE INTERESTING PARADOX, IN THE END PILATE WAS NOT THE JUDGE BUT THE
JUDGED.
A. You are forced to be the judge of Jesus Christ.
1. In the end your decision does nothing to Him, He is
always what He is.
2. But you are condemned or pardoned by your decision.
Sermon Outline
- Pilate's Decision, Jesus or Barabbas points: - Who Jesus was - The Son of God - The Prince of Peace - The fulfillment of the law
- A man of violence, insurrection points: - Who Barabbas was - A lawbreaker - A murderer, filled with hate
- War over peace points: - The crowd's choice - Lawlessness over the law - Hate over love
- 'Pilate''s Question: ''What Shall I Do with Jesus Who Is Called the Christ?''' points: - Facing the question - Every man must judge Jesus Christ - Will you receive Him or reject Him?
- Jesus or-- points: - The decision - If you reject Him, what are you looking to?
- Pilate's Tragic Decision, Verse 15 points: - Violation of his own conscience - He had testified, 'I find no fault in Him.'
- He really did not want to do it, yet he did points: - Violation of his own desire
- Pilate willing to content the people points: - Why would he do it?
- The Interesting Paradox, In the End Pilate Was Not the Judge But the Judged points: - You are forced to be the judge of Jesus Christ - In the end your decision does nothing to Him, He is always what He is
Key Quotes
“The crowd is not always right.” — Chuck Smith
“The crowd is many times stupidly wrong.” — Chuck Smith
“Your crowd may be wrong and to follow its influence may damn your soul.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We must follow our conscience and not be swayed by the crowd.
- Rejecting Jesus means choosing to be ruled by hate, greed, violence, money, intellect, or pleasure.
- Our decision about Jesus will determine our eternal destiny.