What Will You Do With Jesus? Four Characters and Their Life-Changing Decisions

Life is full of choices, but some decisions carry eternal weight. While we make countless daily choices—from where to eat lunch to what to wear—there are three decisions that truly shape our entire existence: what we’ll do with our lives, who we’ll marry, and most importantly, what we’ll do with Jesus Christ.

Why This Decision Matters Most

The question of who Jesus is to you stands above all other life decisions. He is either God or He’s not. You’ve either bowed your knee to Him in salvation or you haven’t. This isn’t a decision you can postpone indefinitely—every day you don’t choose is itself a choice.

One day, every person will stand before God. The question isn’t whether this will happen, but where you’ll stand when it does. In Luke 23, we encounter four different characters who each had to make this crucial decision about Jesus, and their responses reveal the various ways people handle this eternal choice.

The Context: Jesus Before His Crucifixion

After Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and Peter’s denial at Caiaphas’ house, the religious leaders brought Jesus to Pilate. Under Roman law, the Jewish authorities couldn’t execute anyone—they needed Roman approval. This sets the stage for our four characters and their responses to Christ.

Character 1: Pilate – The Man Who Couldn’t Recognize Truth

Who Was Pilate?

Pilate was a Gentile governor who didn’t follow Jewish customs and actually despised the Jewish people. Contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t a weak man without backbone—he was cruel and calculating, making political moves to gain more power.

Pilate’s Question and Jesus’ Answer

When the crowd brought accusations against Jesus, Pilate asked Him directly: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus responded, “You say that I am.” Their conversation continued with Jesus explaining His purpose: “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.”

The Fatal Question

Pilate’s response reveals his spiritual condition: “What is truth?” Here stood Truth incarnate before him, yet Pilate couldn’t recognize it. He lived in a world of political maneuvering and personal ambition, unable to discern absolute truth when it was right in front of him.

Pilate’s Compromise

After examining Jesus, Pilate declared, “I find no fault in this man.” Yet instead of releasing an innocent man, he sought compromise—offering to beat Jesus and then release Him. When it comes to salvation, there is no middle ground. You either trust Christ or you don’t.

Many people today are like Pilate—they don’t find anything wrong with Christianity, but they don’t want to commit to following Christ. This indecision is itself a decision that leads to eternal separation from God.

Character 2: Herod – The Man Who Wanted Entertainment

Herod’s Excitement

When Pilate sent Jesus to Herod (since Jesus was from Galilee, which was under Herod’s jurisdiction), Herod was “exceeding glad.” He had wanted to see Jesus for a long time, but not for the right reasons.

Wrong Motivations

Herod hoped to see Jesus perform miracles—he wanted entertainment, not truth. He treated Jesus like a circus act, expecting Him to perform on command. This represents people today who approach God with a “what can you do for me?” attitude.

When Jesus Didn’t Perform

Jesus answered Pilate’s questions because Pilate genuinely didn’t understand truth. But to Herod, who was mocking Him, Jesus said nothing. When Herod didn’t get the show he wanted, he and his soldiers mocked Jesus, dressed Him in a robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

This progression is dangerous—when people don’t get what they want from God, disappointment often turns to mockery and rejection.

Character 3: The Crowd – From Indifference to Hatred

The Composition of the Crowd

The crowd consisted of chief priests (religious leaders), rulers (political authorities), and common people. This diverse group united in their rejection of Christ.

Their Demand

Despite Pilate’s repeated declarations of Jesus’ innocence, the crowd demanded His crucifixion. They chose to release Barabbas—a terrorist, traitor, and murderer—instead of Jesus, the one who healed, fed, and helped people.

The Progression of Rejection

Notice the dangerous progression: Pilate didn’t understand truth but didn’t seek it. Herod became disappointed when he didn’t get what he wanted. The crowd progressed to outright hatred, chanting “Crucify Him!” This shows how rejection of truth can escalate to active opposition against God.

Character 4: Barabbas – The Man Who Went Free

Barabbas’ Situation

Barabbas was a homeland terrorist scheduled for crucifixion that very day. Sitting in his cell, he knew he was guilty and deserved death. He could hear the crowd chanting his name and “Crucify Him!” but couldn’t see what was happening.

The Unexpected Exchange

When Roman soldiers brought Barabbas to the judgment seat, he saw Jesus on the other side. In his mind, there was no hope—surely they would choose to release the healer and teacher rather than a guilty criminal.

The Moment of Freedom

To Barabbas’ amazement, the crowd chose him. As the chains fell from his wrists, he watched Jesus—the innocent, sinless one—walk to the very cross where Barabbas was supposed to die. Someone had taken his place.

What Barabbas Represents

Barabbas represents every person who has ever been saved. We are all guilty before God, deserving of spiritual death. But Jesus, the sinless one, took our place on the cross. Barabbas walked away free not because he wasn’t guilty (he was), not because he didn’t deserve death (he did), but because someone was willing to die in his place.

The Question for Today

We don’t know what Barabbas did with the rest of his life after his release. But the question for us today isn’t what Barabbas did—it’s what will you do when you realize that someone took your place?

Jesus died for your sins, your shame, your guilt. The old song says it well: “I should have been crucified, I should have suffered and died, I should have hung on the cross in disgrace, but Jesus, God’s son, took my place.”

Life Application

This week, reflect honestly on which character you most resemble in your relationship with Jesus. Are you like Pilate, acknowledging that Jesus seems good but refusing to commit? Like Herod, wanting God to perform for you rather than surrendering to Him? Like the crowd, allowing disappointment or cultural pressure to turn you against Christ? Or like Barabbas, recognizing your guilt and gratefully accepting the freedom that comes through Christ’s sacrifice?

The choice is yours, but remember—choosing not to decide is itself a decision. Jesus took your place on the cross. How will you live knowing that someone chose to die for you?

Questions for Reflection:

• Which of these four characters do I most identify with in my current spiritual state?

• Am I seeking truth genuinely, or am I looking for God to meet my expectations?

• How does understanding that Jesus took my place on the cross change how I should live today?

• What specific step do I need to take this week to move closer to accepting or following Christ more fully?