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“Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified,’” (Matthew 27:22). 

This foolish mob under the leadership of their jealous leaders who had stirred them up responded to a very important question with the most horrible of responses. They cried out for the blood of the only person who ever lived who did not deserve death. 

However, the fact is that the question posed by Pilate is one that every human being must answer in some form or fashion. “What then shall I do with Jesus” is a question posed to each of us by the God of heaven, through His inspired word. 

How we react will determine eternity for us. Note some possible reactions.

• Ignore Him – Many simply choose to ignore Jesus. They fail to understand that “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27). They do not understand that the time will come for all humanity that “at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow… and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father,” (Philippians 2:10-11).

• Reject Him – Many who lived during the life of Jesus rejected Him. Many today hear about Jesus but refuse to submit to Him as the King and Lord. Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day,” (John 12:48).

• Deny Him – Like Paul’s friend and co-worker, Demas, many leave Christ, and deny Him in their lives. “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world,” (2 Timothy 4:10).

• Believe and obey Him – “Though He were a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,” (Hebrews 5:8-9).  

Come and meet me at the cross, and we will answer the question “What shall I do with Jesus” with an answer that will save our souls.

Dean Kelly is minister at Highland Home Church of Christ.