Dear Christian friends:

In the Gospel lesson for this Sunday we read how Jesus stood before the judgment seat of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. But really their positions were reversed. Really Pontius Pilate was standing before the judgment seat of Christ. Pilate thought he was the king judging Jesus, but really Jesus, the King of kings, was judging him.

As Pontius Pilate stood before Christ the King, so must everyone. Both the Epistle Lesson and the Gospel Lesson for today teach us that Jesus is King and Judge over all men.


Pontius Pilate tried to avoid making a decision about Christ. He knew that Jesus was innocent of the false charges which the Jewish church leaders brought against Him. Several times Pilate tried to free Jesus, but the Jews refused to let him do that. (John 18:38-40, 19:1-16)

Pontius Pilate had to make a decision about Jesus Christ. He could not avoid making that decision. Pilate decided to condemn Jesus to death. He rejected Jesus, the King of kings.

As Pontius Pilate had to make a decision about Christ the King, so must everyone whether he wants to or not. If a person makes no decision it is really a decision against Christ. Before Christ the King no man can remain neutral. Many people don't want to make a decision about Christ. If you visit them and urge them to accept Christ for their Savior and King, they say, "I don't want to think about that. I don't want to talk about that." Some people delay making a decision about Christ. They say, "I will think about that later, some other time. Now is not the right time." (Acts 24:24-25)

Most of us who are sitting here today in church say that we have already finished making a decision about Christ. I'm sure that most of us sitting here feel comfortable and satisfied that we have decided to accept Jesus for our Savior and King. You would not be sitting here in church this morning if you did not think that. But I think we ought to ask ourselves these questions:

1. Have I really decided for Christ?

2. Do I really love Him and worship Him and serve
Him as my great King? or

3. Am I fooling myself and others?

4. Does my life show and prove that I have accepted
Jesus for my Savior King?

If you have really accepted Jesus for your Savior-King, you should have wonderful peace and love in your heart and mind. Why? Because those who believe in Jesus Christ know that God loves them and has forgiven all their sins. They do not go around feeling guilty and afraid all the time. In the Epistle lesson we read, "Jesus, the Ruler over all kings on earth, loves us and by His death frees us from our sins." (verse 5)

Do you feel at peace with God? Do you feel much love and worship for God? Are you willing and eager to make peace with those who have done wrong to you? Do you forgive others as God has forgiven you? If you can answer, "Yes," to these questions, then it shows that you have really accepted Christ for your Savior-King. If not, you better think some more and pray some more. Maybe you haven't really accepted Jesus for your Savior-King.

Secondly, if you have accepted Jesus for your Savior-King, you will obey Him and gladly serve Him. Again in the Epistle lesson we read that Jesus has "made us a nation of priests to serve God the Father. To Jesus we give all glory and power forever. Amen." (verse 6)

Are you living as a holy priest of God? Do you obey and serve Jesus your Savior-King? Next Sunday will be our Loyalty Sunday. You will be asked to commit your life to the service of Jesus your King. Will you make a decision for Jesus your King to serve Him in 1980 with your time, your talents and your treasure? Some of our officers and some of those on the Stewardship Committee have already made their commitments to serve Christ in 1980. If you have really accepted Jesus for your Savior-King, you will be eager and feel honored to make your commitment too. If not, I wonder if you have really decided for Christ.

And finally, if you have really decided for Christ, you will wait with eagerness and joy for His coming again in glory. In the Epistle lesson we read, “Look, Jesus is coming from the clouds. Everyone will see Jesus, also those who killed Him, and all nations will weep in sorrow and in terror when He comes. Yes! Amen! Let it be so!" (verse 7)

Those people like Pontius Pilate and the Jews who rejected Jesus will not be eager and glad to see Him coming in glory as the King and Judge of all the earth. "They will weep in sorrow and terror when He comes." They know that Jesus the King will send them away from God into hell with Satan and all those who hate and kill.

But those people who have decided for Christ the King wait anxiously for His coming back in glory. They do not fear Jesus anger or judgment. He is their Savior and their King. They wait to hear His beautiful invitation: "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, enter into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world." (Matt. 25:34)

Are you anxiously waiting for Jesus the King to come again in glory? Or are you eager and anxious to continue living in this wicked world? If you are really waiting for Jesus' return, you will be eager and careful to use your time and talents to serve Him. You will be more interested to store up treasures in Heaven than here on earth in the bank. You will think more about a place of honor in heaven than to have one here on earth among men.

Some of us perhaps will die before Jesus comes back in glory. How do you feel about dying? Are you afraid to die? Often we are, but really if we have decided for Christ, we should not fear death. Death for the Christian is the beginning of the eternal life in its full bloom and glory. Each of us should pray this little prayer daily: "Teach me to live that I may dread The grave as little as my bed. Teach me to die that so I may Rise glorious at the awe-ful day." (TLH 558 verse 3)

May God help us always to make the decisions for Christ our Savior-King!

Amen.