#344 THE NEW YEAR QUESTION
Scripture Matthew 27:22, Mark 15:11-15, NIV
Orig. Date 1/1/1967
Rewr. Dates 12/29/1984
Passage: Matthew 27:22, “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
Mark 15:11-15 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. 12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. 13 “Crucify him!” they shouted. 14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Purpose: To preach a beginning of the year message to my people urging them to renewed commitment to Christ.
Keywords: Christ, Lord New Year
Commitment Special Day
Introduction
We had an occasion this past week to repeat an often-taken journey. I was reminded, while driving through Dallas toward Fort Worth, of other days and other more tedious journeys. Today, there is more traffic, but the highways are quite different and much better. Now, it is only a matter of reading the road signs and staying on the one appropriately marked.
I remember how it used to be. I remember driving through downtown Dallas. I remember driving Highway 80, down Elm Street, across Houston, down the dip toward the railroad viaduct, making the turn to the turnpike, getting my toll fee ready, and then enjoying a non-stop drive to my back door on the seminary campus.
The old brick warehouse on the corner of Elm and Houston was passed unnoticed. After leaving seminary and teaching adult education during my first pastorate, I failed to recall the building though I communicated with the Texas School Book Depository housed therein.
If I were to pass that corner today, I would see a monument erected there. In all of my passings, I would never have imagined something so evilly momentous would happen there. How could anyone have foreseen that an American president would be assassinate there?
Take note, please, that we begin a new journey. It is a 365 day march to an unknown destiny. We can’t foresee the joys. We can’t foresee the sorrows. For most of us we will make it all the way. For some there may be a necessary shortfall. But be sure that for all of us there is the potential to a victorious conclusion when we seek to live the year, 365 days of it, 24 hours per day, in Christ. He is the only dependable answer to the “New Year Question.”
I. It is an expedient question: Pilate asked what he should “do” with Jesus.
It is a question to our undoing if we are less than candid about it. I remember the first non-family member who talked with me about Jesus. I was 16. Only casually interested. But I remember his concern. But he could not settle my question. I remember my parents’ concern, particularly my mother. But she could not smooth out the wrinkles of my dilemma.
It is a question with which we should have a basic understanding. I remember some times over the years when I have been called to the bedside of a dying person. Tho’ family members felt love, they felt inadequate to deal with this aspect of life. I can’t help but wonder what those did when I could not be reached.
It is a question which all of us should periodically ask of ourselves. What happens if death should approach my family? What would happen if I should find myself to be the bearer of some terminal disease?
The EXPEDIENT question is, “What am I doing with Jesus?” Is this just going to be another spiritually listless year? Am I going to continue just hoping to get by? Or am I going to intent myself what the Heavenly Father expects of me.?
Hebrews 10:25, “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is.”
II Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman needing not to be ashamed.”
II. It is also an explicit question: Pilate understood that it was a matter of his own reckoning, and that there were decisions which he had to make.
You see, once we see our own involvement we must settle our responsibility. Life’s enduring quality is in having the right of input in decisions affecting our destiny. Making the right decision at the right time is most important. Most of us have made Mississippi ferry crossings and have marveled at the pilot who could steer with the current to a perfect landing. Missing, we must struggle back against the current.
There are many important questions that have to do with moral accountability.
· "I pay my debts!” Great. But that isn’t at issue here.
· “I do right by my family.” Wonderful, but where does it say that is the question?
· “I’m better than that hypocrite down at the church.” So you are, but who says judgment is compared to other people.
There have been a lot of idealistic questions about Jesus.
· John 8:31, (Pilate), “Take him and judge him according to your law.”
· Luke 23:7 (Pilate), “When he heard that he was of Herod’s jurisdiction (Galilee), he sent him to Herod.”
· Matthew 27:17 (Pilate), “Whom will ye that I release unto you, Jesus or Barabbas?”
· Matthew 27:24 (Pilate), “I am innocent of the blood of this just person.”
No matter how hard he tried to play down the real issue. Pilate was accountable. So are we!
III. This brings us finally to acknowledge that this is an explosive question: What Pilate asks here is, “What must I do with Jesus?”
It acknowledges an expedient question that he must answer himself. It condescends to an explicit question which shows himself uniquely responsible. It declares with finality that it is an explosive question because it has to do with Jesus.
Someone has referred to Him as the “dangerous Christ”: a danger to closed and prejudiced minds, a danger to selfish interests, a danger to artificial professions of faith, a danger to those who try to defy God’s moral and spiritual order.
Isaiah 52:15, “He shall startle many nations.”
After King Herod was dead, an angel appeared to Joseph to tell him that the time had come to return to Galilee. The angel said, “They that sought the young child’s life are dead,” Matthew 2:20.
What we do with and about Jesus is still the most important question facing us for this year. What did you do about Him last year? Are you satisfied with that? What do you intend to do this YEAR? What must we do with Jesus?
Conclusion
Vince Lombardi, great coach of the Green Bay Packers, in a winning season, watched his team play far beneath their potential. At their Monday team meeting he blistered: Held up football. “Back to basics. This is a football!”