The Greatest Question to Answer

As we finished celebrating the Easter season a few months ago and were so focused on giving praise to God as our risen Savior, I was reminded again how so many want Jesus when it is convenient or benefits them! Since Easter, I have been pondering a question that demands an answer from every one of us. It's a question that every one of us answers on a daily basis whether we realize it or not. What is the question that is consuming my mind right now is "What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" (Matt. 27:22). What am I doing today with Jesus who is called Christ? The crowd who shouted "Crucify Him" in verse 22 of Matthew which revealed their hearts to this question. Pilate answered, the crowd answered, and we ALL will answer that question. It must be answered because refusing to answer it would really be an answer: "away with Him." There are some things we can remain neutral about, but there is nothing neutral about our answer to what we will do with Christ. Sweet sister, you answer this question every day by the way you live your life. Being neutral, not taking time daily for Christ, and putting daily idols above your time with Him is indeed revealing of your heart.

Pilate was warned by his wife not to have anything to do with Jesus after having a bad dream, so Pilate handed Jesus off to Herod (Luke 23:1-12) who took pleasure in mocking Jesus before handing Him back over to Pilate to sentence Him to death. Pilate thought he could pass the buck to Herod (and Herod did the same) and not have to make a decision regarding Jesus. Matthew 12:30 says, " Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Sweet friend, again, a neutral answer or not answering the question means you are against Christ. Both Pilate and Herold were guilty - they were against Christ. I think in the world today many people think that if they do not answer questions it's "ok" but with God, this question demands and answer. This mindset reminds me of Eve in the garden when the serpent was adding to what God told them. Eve (and the serpent) was trying to twist God's Words to get what she wanted. Her heart was divided between self-pleasure and obedience to what God said.

In John's account of events leading up to Easter, we see what Judas did with Jesus. John 18:5 says, "... And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them." As Judas stood beside Jesus, he knew in his heart exactly what he was doing. He was betraying Jesus to the Jewish authorities for 30 pieces of silver. The close, intimate bond that Jesus had with His disciples was no doubt such a sweet relationship, yet Judas made the decision to betray Jesus with nothing less than a kiss. When Judas Iscariot bargained with the leaders of Israel for the betrayal of Jesus, he asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” The leaders then counted out a mere “thirty pieces of silver,” (Matthew 26:15). They considered the cost of Jesus’ death to be that of a slave. Later, when Judas was overcome with guilt for betraying Jesus, he fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy and threw all he was paid into the temple (Matthew 27:3-5). Then the leaders used the money to buy a field from a potter as Zechariah had predicted (Matthew 27:6-10). Later Judas, filled with remorse for his betrayal, threw the coins back at the priests in the Temple before he went to a field and hanged himself. Whew - what a heavy answer Judas had to this question!

Before we throw Judas under the bus, let's take a quick look at Peter who was also one of the 12 apostles. He was told that he would deny Jesus 3 times (John 12:37-38), yet he was not alert to the devil's schemes and fulfilled exactly what Jesus had warned him about. Read Mark 14:72 to see Peter's reaction. I think we can all relate to Peter's failure at this time. Peter's heart was for Jesus, but his flesh was weak. In full forgiveness and with the help of the Holy Spirit, Peter later becomes a leader of the church, present at Pentecost and writing 1 & 2 Peter which encourages believers to "be diligent to be found in Him in peace, without spot and blameless," looking forward to the return of Christ. Praise God that although we all sin just like Peter, by the grace of God He helps us to accomplish the things that align with His will!

There were also faithful followers who answered this question with absolute love and devotion for Jesus. The women and crowd following Jesus mourned and lamented over the death of Jesus (Luke 23:27). One thief on the cross acknowledged Him even as he was facing death (Luke 23:39-43). Joseph of Arimathea retrieved the body of Jesus, took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in the tomb (Luke 23:50-56) as women followed with spices and perfume to prepare the body. Oh, how wonderful to have these things as the answer to what you did with Jesus who is called Christ!

We could dive into many faithful followers of Christ: John the Baptist, Paul, Philip and Nathanael who answered this question dropping everything to follow Jesus, but it would be more of a study than a blog. You can take the opportunity to research some of these if you'd like to read these great stories. Just know that the influence that these faithful followers had on others to draw closer to God can never be underestimated. Neither can the bad influence of the previous characters! We live in a world of people searching for answers, needing to learn about what Jesus was really like and why He died on a cross. Many know ABOUT Jesus but have no idea what a relationship with Christ is about. Our answer to the proposed question, "What will I do with Jesus" should be that we would commit our lives to His will - sharing the gospel and growing spiritually and giving our lives as a living sacrifice for Him. We can't put off until tomorrow what God wants us to do today. Proverbs 27:1 warns us that we need to be about Our Father's work today while, Ephesians 2:8-10 encourages us that we are His workmanship created for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Sweet sister, I encourage you to spend time this week considering this question, "What will you do with Jesus, who is called Christ?" Will you live an uncommitted life neither hot nor cold for Him? Will you allow your fleshly desires to deny Him, or will you forsake everything on this earth to follow the Savior who freely gave His life as a ransom for you? What is He calling you to do today, this week and this year for Him? Pray and ask Him to reveal His desires to you and He will.

Verses to Meditate on: Proverbs 27:1; Matthew 12:37-38; Mark 14:72; John 1; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter; 2 Peter

Prayer Prompt: Our Heavenly Father - sacrificed Lamb for my sins, I pray that you will help me to take an honest look at my life as well as the answer to today's question. Search my heart to see if there be any wicked way in me. I pray that your Holy Spirit will fall fresh on me as I commit to give my life as a living sacrifice for Your service. May I be found faithful and may all those who know me see that You hold first place in my life. Knowing that I have a sinful nature and that I will fail, I pray that you will guide me daily convicting me when I falter so that I may confess and restore my relationship with you. Sin puts separation between me and You and my desire is to walk closer and closer in obedience with you. Help me to make conscious choices in my life that will lead to more of the Your presence. Lord, Proverbs 8:17 says, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me." Help me to seek you in everything that I do. Thank you for bearing my sins on the cross. I love you, Lord. Amen.

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