When Jesus was brought to Pilate, it was customary for the governor to release a prisoner of the people’s choosing (Matthew 27:15). Pilate wanted to release Jesus because he knew, based on a dream that his wife had, that Jesus was innocent (27:19). However, the Jews demanded that Pilate release Barabbas, a man guilty of insurrection and murder (27:19). Pilate then asked them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?”

The question that Pilate asked is one that everyone should ask themselves. If you are not a Christian, the Bible is clear about what you should do with Jesus. You should recognize that He is the Christ and accept Him as your personal Savior. You do this by obeying the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16). You must believe in Christ and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). If you do that, your sins will be washed away by the blood of Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 22:16), and you can start following Him. That is what you should do with Jesus. If you want to go to heaven, that is what you must do with Jesus.

Those of us who are Christians need to ask ourselves this question too. Now that we are Christians, what are we going to do with Jesus? People who obey the gospel do different things with Jesus. Some remember Him on Sundays, but they forget about Him on every other day of the week. Is that what you do with Jesus? We must remember that following Jesus is not a part-time vocation; it is an everyday duty.

Luke 9:23 (ESV)
²³ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

If you are really a Christian, you are a Christian all the time. You follow Him daily, striving to have His mind (Philippians 2:5) and walk in His steps (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6). This is what we should be doing with Jesus. To be a disciple of Christ is a learning experience (Matthew 11:29). Jesus wants us to learn from Him, but not just for the sake of learning. He wants us to be daily doers. If you are doing that, you are doing the right thing with Jesus.

As Christians there is something else that we should be doing with Jesus. We should be telling others about Him. Just before the first gospel sermon was preached and the church was established on the day of Pentecost, Jesus gave His disciples the great commission.

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

There are two parts to the great commission. There is the direct command to the apostles to preach the gospel. Then, there is the command to teach those they baptize to do all that He commanded them to do. That means that those who are baptized are under the great commission too. We should all be soul winners for Christ. Only Christians are in position to help God save souls. How are the lost going to be saved if they never hear the gospel? And, as Paul once asked, how are they going to hear without someone willing to preach to them (Romans 10:14). As Christians, that someone should be us. Pilate’s question was a good one. What shall I do with Jesus? How often do you ask yourself that question?

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.