What Shall I Do with Jesus?
Matthew 27:11-26
All throughout his Gospel, Matthew has been proving to us the identity of Jesus of Nazareth—that He is the Christ, the promised King of the Jews, Who is the Son of God. He is the Lord Himself who has come to “save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Jesus said, “For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance,” (Matt. 9:13). He said, “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,” (Matt. 20:28). At the last supper having told His disciples to drink from the cup of the Lord’s Supper, Jesus said, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Matthew’s whole Gospel account has been leading to its climax at the cross where Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins. And with His trial before Pilate as our text today, we have come to the very threshold of His crucifixion. The chief priests, scribes, and elders of the Sanhedrin have condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy, but they must take Him to the Roman governor, Pilate for execution. We read in Matthew 27:1-2,
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. (Matt. 27:1-2).
After recording the end of the betrayer, Judas Iscariot (Matt. 27:3-10), Matthew resumes Jesus’ trial before Pilate in Matthew 27:11. Pilate’s trial of Jesus consists of a series of six questions from the governor. He asked two questions of Jesus. To one question, Jesus gives an answer; to the other, He is silent. Pilate directs the rest of the questions toward the multitude that had gathered for the trial under the leadership of the chief priests. Two of the questions the multitude answers with “Barabbas!” The other two, they answer with “Crucify Him!” One question identifies the Person of Christ as well as His purpose. Other questions expose the sinful hearts of those calling for Jesus’ death, the cowardice and pragmatism of Pilate, and the guilt of those gathered for the trial.[1] And one question puts every reader of the Gospel on trial. It’s a question that we must answer for ourselves, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matt. 27:22).
Shall I accept Jesus Christ for who He claims to be? Shall I reject Him as a liar and a blasphemer? Shall I try to ignore Christ and His claims? Shall I see in Him my only hope for forgiveness and eternal life? Shall I pretend He is something He is not?
Through his gospel account, Matthew has brought us to this point of decision. Matthew has shown us the miraculous birth of Jesus, His marvelous teachings, His powerful miracles, His tender compassion, His absolute sinlessness, His perfect righteousness, and His astounding claims. Now, as we walk through Jesus’ trial before Pilate, we also must answer Pilate’s question, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
Jesus’ trial before the governor begins with …
1. Pilate’s Interrogation (Matt. 27:11-14)
Matthew 27:11 says, “Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’”
The “You” in Pilate’s question is emphatic, perhaps even a little derisive. Pilate incredulously looks at this beat-up, bound prisoner before him and asks Him, “You are the king of the Jews?”
Why does Pilate ask this question? Although Matthew doesn’t record the charges that the chief priests brought against Jesus, it’s clear that they accused Jesus of claiming to be the king of the Jews. Remember, in Matthew 26, at the Jewish trial, they charged Jesus with blasphemy for claiming to be the Christ, the Son of God. But a religious charge of blasphemy would mean nothing to the Roman governor. So, they made it appear that Jesus was some kind of revolutionary king inciting the people to rebel against Rome’s oppression.
The gospel of Luke clarifies that they brought three charges against Jesus, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King,” (Luke 23:2). The first two are blatant lies about Jesus. The third is true, but Jesus is not the kind of revolutionary king they accuse Him of being. Pilate focuses on the third charge, and so he asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus responds with clarity and affirmation, “It is as you say.” It’s the same confession that Jesus made before Caiaphas (Matt. 26:64). If Jesus had denied being a king, chances are the trial would have ended right then. But Jesus made “the good confession before Pontius Pilate” (1 Tim. 6:13). This, in fact, becomes the charge against Jesus for which they crucify Him. Notice Matthew 27:37, “And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
John’s gospel tells us that Jesus told Pilate how His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). Jesus told Pilate, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37). He told Pilate that he had no authority over Him unless it had been given to him “from above” (John 19:11).
Jesus’ claim to be Christ the King is either true or it isn’t. And that, in a very real sense, is exactly what Pilate had to come to terms with. Everyone else must come to terms with it. You and I must come to terms with it. The one thing you cannot do is to ignore the claims of Jesus. Everyone who encounters Jesus must decide what they will do with Jesus Christ.
The second question that Pilate asks of Jesus is in Matthew 27:13. He asks, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” He asked this because “while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing,” (Matt. 27:12). As governor, Pilate had sat in judgment over many trials. And he knew that whenever a man was being charged with capital crimes—even if he were guilty of them—he would plead his case and challenge the charges that were made against him. It takes a great deal of self-control to remain silent when being accused. Especially when such accusations are so obviously false.
It is obvious that Jesus was no ordinary Man. Jesus was fully capable of refuting every single one of these accusations. He could have demonstrated how each one of them were false. He could have demonstrated how it was that He was being slandered in such things! He could have turned the tables and caused the chief priests and elders to look like fools. But, to do so would have meant that He wouldn’t have gone to the cross. And so, Jesus stood silent.
“But,” Matthew tells us, although the chief priests and elders multiplied their accusations against Jesus, “He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly,” (Matt. 27:14). No one who truly sees Jesus’ calm resolve in the face of these evil accusations can help but marvel at Him. Jesus was innocent of all the charges, yet He refused to defend Himself. He was willing to stand condemned so that you and I could be set free.
Look at what happens next in this trial. We see,
2. The Crowd’s Choice (Matt. 27:15-23)
At this point, Pilate knew two things. First, he knew that Jesus was innocent. Pilate’s wife will call Jesus a “righteous Man” in Matthew 27:19. In Matthew 27:23, Pilate asked the crowd, “… what evil has He done?” Second, Pilate knew that the religious leaders were trying to pull a fast one on him. In Matthew 27:18 Pilate knew “that they had handed” Jesus “over because of envy.” In other words, it’s because the religious leaders hated Jesus that they wanted Him dead. And so, Pilate initiated His plan to free Jesus.
The Passover was kind of like “national amnesty day.” At the feast, Rome would extend an act of kindness and good will to the Jewish people in an effort to keep them happy. Matthew writes, “Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.” (Matt. 27:15). Pilate saw this as an opportunity to get out of doing what the chief priests wanted him to do, while at the same time, shifting the blame for it to the Jewish people themselves. If he could get the crowd to insist that Jesus be freed, the Jewish leaders could not hold it against the governor.
So Pilate gives them a choice. Matthew says, “And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.” (Matt. 27:16). Now understand. It wasn’t Pilate’s intention to release Barabbas. He was, as far as the Roman government was concerned, a notoriously bad criminal! John tells us that he was a “robber” (John 18:40). Luke tells us that he was thrown into prison “for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder” (Luke 23:19). Mark tells us that he was chained with a group of fellow rebels because “they had committed murder in the rebellion” (Mark 15:7). Pilate was certain that they’d never pick Barabbas—a vile criminal who was clearly worthy of death.
So, Matthew tells us, “Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’” (Matt. 27:17).
Pilate knew it was out of envy that the leaders had handed Jesus over to him (Matt. 27:18). Pilate may not have been a good judge at Jesus’ trial, but apparently, he was shrewd enough to know the prideful and malevolent character of the chief priests and elders. He knows Jesus is innocent. In fact, Matthew 27:19 underscores that fact. It says, “While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”” (Matt. 27:19).
Pilate’s wife had obviously heard about Jesus, and He was much on her mind. Apparently, she had a dream about Jesus that greatly disturbed her. Whether this was a natural dream or something that God gave to her, we’re not told. But when morning came, she was so affected by the dream that she was willing to interrupt her husband in the midst of his judgment in order to give him this warning.
Now Pilate has yet another reason to declare Jesus innocent. He himself is convinced of Jesus’ innocence. He knows the Jewish leaders have handed Jesus over to him out of envy. And now his wife has this dream also confirming Jesus’ innocence. So Pilate offers the choice of Barabbas or Jesus. The right choice should have been obvious.
So, what a shock it must have been when the crowd, nevertheless, chose Barabbas for release—and chose Jesus for death! Why did the crowd ask for the murderer instead of Jesus? Matthew tells us, “But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.” (Matt. 27:20). For the most part, the multitudes of the common people had sided with Jesus. They marveled at His teachings and were astonished at His miracles. But a crowd can easily be turned into a frenzied mob by just a few loud persuasive agitators. And this multitude in Jerusalem—some of whom might have shouted about Jesus, “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”—now they are shouting for His crucifixion!
Pilate couldn’t believe it. Matthew 27:21 records that Pilate asked the question again, perhaps with a note of incredulity, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” Outrageously, they confirm their choice, “They said, ‘Barabbas!’” (Matt. 27:21). In a quandary now, Pilate asks them (Matt. 27:22), “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” And do you notice that they didn’t say, “Whatever you think best, sir”? No! “They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’” (Matt. 27:22). Even when Pilate tries to reason with the crowd by asking “Why, what evil has He done?” (Matt. 27:23), it didn’t work. They continued shouting all the more, “Let Him be crucified!“—Let Him be crucified! Let Him be crucified!” This became their chant.
They didn’t ask that He be sent away into exile. They didn’t ask that He be kept in prison. They didn’t even ask that they be permitted to stone Him. They asked for the most gruesome and cruel form of execution that the Roman government would allow—reserved only for the most notorious criminals. They demanded crucifixion.
Pilate was getting nowhere. The mob mentality was taking over. And here is another lesson for us. Will you join the crowd in rushing to a flawed judgment against Christ? Or will you stop and consider who Jesus really is? Will you reject Him, or will you receive Him?
Finally, in the trial of Jesus we see,
3. The Guilty Verdict (Matt. 27:24-26)
But here’s the irony. Even though they insist Jesus be condemned and executed, in reality, they pronounce the guilty verdict and the death sentence upon themselves.
Matthew 27:24 says, “When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.’” He didn’t wish to put Jesus to death; because Jesus was a Man with whom he could find no fault. And yet, he saw that the crowd was dangerously determined to see Jesus dead.
So, losing any courage to do what is right, Pilate resorted to a pathetic act of avoidance. He called for water, washed his hands before the multitude as a symbolic act of disassociating himself from the crucifixion, and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it” (Matt. 27:24).
Was his action effective? Not at all. No amount of water would ever wash away his association with Jesus. There is only one innocent person here, and it’s not Pilate. MacArthur comments, “All the courts of men, all the efforts of men and demons combined together cannot come up with one single legitimate accusation against Christ, and the record stands that He was killed because they hated Him and rejected Him. It was the evil of their own hearts, not anything Christ had done.”[2]
Later on, after Jesus was raised from the dead, the gathered Christians would pray to God and say, “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done” (Acts 4:27-28). And throughout the following centuries, countless numbers of Christians have taken the Apostolic Creed as their confession of faith—which says, among other things, that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate”. Pilate washes his hands in vain. The old hymn is still true, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
Jesus is not someone you can simple wash your hands of. Each of us must make a decision of what we will do with Him. We may try to wash our hands of Him now—but we will not be able to avoid Him on the day of judgment.
The crowd of Jews could not avoid it. Their response to Pilate is the most chilling and dreadful curses that anyone could utter: “His blood be on us and on our children,” (Matt. 27:25). Here is the truth of the gospel. Jesus died for sin—not His own, for He had none—for ours. The Bible says that we have all sinned, so we are all responsible for Jesus’ death. It was your sin and mine that put Jesus on the cross. What you do with Jesus determines whether you stay in your sins or whether you are forgiven. Either Jesus’ blood cleanses us from our sins when we believe in Him, or we condemn ourselves by His blood when we reject Him.
Matthew 27:26, says, “Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” The guilty man goes free, and the innocent man is condemned to death. Once again, there is only one innocent person here. The Jewish leaders are guilty of false accusations and persuading the crowd against Jesus. Barabbas is guilty of multiple crimes. The crowd is guilty of choosing Barabbas over Jesus. Pilate is guilty of condemning an innocent man to death. Jesus is the only innocent one here, and Pilate hands him over to be crucified.
What will you do with Jesus who is called the Christ? Here’s what the Bible says you can’t do with Him. “You can’t ignore the claims about Him. You can’t help but marvel at Him. You can’t set another in His place. You can’t help thinking of Him. You can’t stay indifferent toward Him. You can’t wash your hands of Him. And when all is said and done, you can’t claim to be innocent before Him.”[3]
What can you do with Jesus? Here is what you must do—as Peter preached before the Sanhedrin— “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” (Acts 3:19).
Repent of your disbelief, turn from your sin, and be converted. Be baptized in Jesus’ name as a public confession that you have placed your faith in Him—that’s the answer to that great question, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
[1] Phil Newton, The Son on Trial, http://archive.southwoodsbc.org/sermons/matthew_27.11-26.php, accessed 02/21/2026.
[2] John MacArthur, What Shall I Do with Jesus? Part 1, https://www.gty.org/sermons/2393/what-shall-i-do-with-jesus-part-1, accessed 02/21/2026.
[3] Greg Allen,What Shall I Do with Jesus? https://bethanybible.net/index.php/2009/06/28/what-shall-i-do-with-jesus/, accessed 02/21/2026.
