What Shall I Do With Jesus?
Selected via Paul O. Nichols

JOSEPHUS WAS A Jewish historian.  In his book of Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII, chapter III, he says, “Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure.  He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles.  He was the Christ; and when Pilate, At the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and then thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named for him are not extinct today.”

 

Jesus was born in a village stable.  No birth could be lowlier. Possessed of profound wisdom, He had but meager education.  No wife, no child; yet He showed each lonely heart its deepest need.

 

For years He grew and learned His simple trade, shaping the native wood to serve the wants of home and craft.

 

Three years he wandered, teaching, shaping the native hearts to service of truth and love.  He was never more than a few dozen miles from the place of His birth.

 

He held no earthly rank or office, wrote no book, no song; painted no picture, built no monument.

 

His native land was ruled by conquerors and foreign legions.  While still in the flush of youth, His own people turned against this Man who strangely taught that evil can only be overcome with good.

 

He was betrayed for thirty pieces of sliver by one He had befriended.  He was denied by His close friend, and deserted by many others.

 

One dark hour He knelt in the garden, His home of decision.

 

He gave Himself over to His enemies, was tried and condemned in mockery, spat upon and lashed; nailed to a cross between two thieves.

 

He died asking forgiveness for His persecutors while executioners gambled for one of His few earthly possessions – His vesture.

A Borrowed Tomb

Nearly two thousand years have passed, and no one has reigned or wrought, or served, or dreamed who has so touched and molded human life.

 

He is the ideal – the example – who has inspired the noblest and humblest lives – the unalterable, wholesome influence in a world of blood and tears.

 

He who had few real friends would be a friend of all.  Homeless, He dwells in countless homes.  Books on His life fill libraries.  His Gospel covers the earth.  Songs and music in His fraise fill the heavens.  Pictures, spires and monuments proclaim His influence.  Scholars, illiterates, rich men, and beggars rulers, and slaves – all are measured by His life.

 

In a Roman court nearly twenty centuries ago Pontius Pilate asked of the multitude demanding the death of this young Galilean: “I find no fault in him.  What shall I do with Jesus?”

 

Today each troubled heart must meet the challenge.  The question is before us, “What shall I do with Jesus?”  – Selected

When Jesus was Crucified
When Jesus came to Golgotha
They hanged Him on a tree,
They drove great nails through His hands and feet
And made a Calvary;
They crowned Him with a crown of thorns –
Read were His wounds and deep,
For those were crude and cruel days,
And human flesh was cheap.
I Gave My Life
I gave my life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou mightest ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead.
I gave, I gave my life for thee!
What has thou given for me?

What Shall I do with Jesus?

This is the question which must be answered by each individual for himself.  No one can answer for another.
Many answers have been given to this question.  Judas answered by selling our Lord for a paltry thirty pieces of silver.  The answer of the Jews was “Crucify Him!”  The disciples, when faced with this question, forsook and denied Him.  The answer of Saul of Tarsus was to persecute Him.  Pilate tried to be neutral, but Jesus said, “He that is not for me, is against me.”  When Felix was faced with the question, he postponed his answer.  King Agrippa was almost persuaded to accept Jesus, but was never completely convinced, and as far as we know de died in sin.

Jesus stands before you today.  The way you answer this question now may well determine what Jesus does with you when you stand before Him in Judgment.  What is you answer?

– The above selected (via Paul O. Nichols’ The Stoney Point church of Christ Beacon).