The Trial of Jesus

David Himes

Matt 27:22
"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!"

Everyone must sooner or later ask this question "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" This is a question that is asked daily. It is a question that has only two answers:

1. Believe on him and follow him. Or,
2. Deny him and live in sin.

This is the decision. It is a personal question. One that only you can answer. Pilate had to ask the question and so do you.

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?"

I know every mother and father would like to answer the question for their children. Christian parents are proud when their children make the correct decision on their own. They are proud when the child is able to answer the question correctly. Many children and adults too, try to postpone making the decision, but I put to you: that if you refuse to answer the question, then you are in fact answering the question. You see by refusing to answer, you are saying no to Jesus.

You see Pilate would like you to believe that he could wash his hands of the entire situation. He thought that since the people wanted Jesus crucified that it was not his fault that Jesus was murdered.

This is a pressing question even today. "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" You see it is not what should I do with the ‘Church’ or the "Minister’, or the ‘leaders’; it is a very personal question. It is not if Jesus was a ‘good’ man, not if he was ‘religious man’, not if he was an ‘inspirational leader’, but is he the ‘Son of God’.

Who Jesus is, is a related question. If we know who he is then maybe we can understand what we should do with him.

Luke 7:47-49
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-- for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

Mark 4:41
They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Luke 5:21
The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

You see people have asked who is this man. Who is this man who forgives sin, who commands the winds, and who forgives sins? Can this be a mortal man?

This question too, is very important. It is a question that affects your eternal destiny.

Today we would like to ask: Is Jesus a fake, a fraud?

Is this Jesus a deceiver or was he deceived?

Or, is Jesus deity?

If he said I am the Christ then he was either a Liar, Lunatic, or Lord.

Several years ago, an Italian judge was quoted as saying that the trial of Jesus was a mockery and declared Jesus innocent of all charges. Jesus was tried in a Roman court and this Roman judge felt it was necessary to correct the injustice that was done 2000 years earlier.

Today, we would like to have our own trial and determine for ourselves. I want each of you to decide for yourselves, was Jesus a Liar, Lunatic, or Lord. I’ll call the witnesses, ask the questions, and you decide the outcome before you leave here today.

First, let’s call some men and women who were for Jesus.

The first witness needs no introduction. I’ll call John, AKA John the Baptist. John come right up here and have a seat. I ask you this, What do you think of Jesus?

John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

OK, John. Thank you very much.

Next I would like to call Peter, AKA the Big Fisherman. Peter come have a seat. Peter you have been known as a very impetuous man; you have been with Jesus a very long time and followed him for many years. What do you know about Jesus?

Matt 16:16
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Thank you Peter. Please have a seat. Next, I’ll call John. Known in the Bible as the apostle that ‘Jesus loved’. He lived longer than any other apostle and is known for writing about the last days and about heaven. John, tell us about Jesus. Where did he come from?

John 1:2
He was with God in the beginning.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen

his glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of

grace and truth.

Now I know that you are thinking that I have only questioned his friends and followers. These have been people less educated and may not know better. Well then lets question a more educated person. I call Saul of Tarsus, AKA Paul. Paul you are a well-educated man. You are well respected among the Jews. You have written many books. What do you think of Jesus?

Colossians 1:15 & 16
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

OK Paul. I see what you think of him. Let us now call a woman. I call Martha a friend of Jesus who spent much time with him. Martha, do you believe Jesus is deity?

John 11:27
"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Now I would like to call someone that has never questioned before. I call an Angel of God to the stand. Tell me sir, this Jesus, is he our Lord?

Luke 2:11
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Now, please be very reverent. I would like to call Almighty God to testify. Sir, We all know that you cannot lie. Is Jesus your son?

Matt 3:17
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Thank you, thank you very much.

Now we have heard from those who followed Jesus and knew him well. We have heard from his friends. Now let question some of his enemies.

I call a Pharisee. A man who has hardened his heart against Jesus. A man who hated Jesus. Sir, why do you hate Jesus so much?

Luke 15:2
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

OH! Is that all? Well I’m glad Jesus came to sinners. How could he come to me if he didn’t? Is that why you had him crucified? Lets ask that question to Caiaphas the high priest. Well Caiaphas, why did you have him crucified.

Matt 27:43
for he said, "I am the Son of God."

Is that his only crime? Is that worthy of death?

We spoke of Pilate earlier. Let’s put the question directly to him. Pilate, was Jesus guilty of these things?

Luke 23:14
and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.

You let him die, but found nothing wrong with him? I want now to call a centurion in the Roman army. A man that has seen death often. He is a strong man; a man who has been harden by witnessing many deaths by crucifixion.

Mark 15:39
And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

I now call Judas Iscarriot. You were with Jesus for many years. Yet you turn him in for 30 pieces of silver. Surely you have something bad to say about him.

Matt 27:4
"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."

Well, if Judas can’t say anything bad about Jesus, I’ll call evil itself. I call a demon straight out of Hell to testify against Jesus.

Mark 1:24
"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-- the Holy One of God!"

Well that concludes the testimony. I have a hard time finding people to testify against Jesus. Maybe I should call one of you. You see, if you are not for Jesus then you must be against him. There is no neutrality. You must ask yourself is Jesus a Liar, Lunatic, or Lord.

Matt 12:30
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

If you decide not to decide, then you have already decided. If you have decided to leave this place without being in the saving arms of Jesus then you have decided that Jesus is not your Savior. If you walk out of here not in a saved condition, then you have already decided that Jesus is not Lord in your life.

You must crown him Lord or crucify him. If you were once in Christ but have fallen away from his teaching, You can get back on the pathway to righteousness.

Heb 4:6
It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.

You must confess him or crucify him

Matt 10:33
But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my father in heaven.

You must confess him or deny him.

Matt 10:32 & 33
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Pilate was a coward. He should be on trial here; not Jesus. If you do not make the correct decision then you too are as Pilate. You see Pilate never touched the lash that beat Jesus. He did spit into Jesus' face. Pilate never drove the nails into Jesus' hands. But, I say, when Pilate said let him be crucified, he became as guilty of these things as if he did each one.

Everyone that does not make the decision that Jesus is our Lord, that He is the Son of God, then he is just as guilty as Pilate is today.

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?"

If you decide that you want to confess Jesus, if you don’t want to be guilty of his death, then come while we sing.