"Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, become friends that day."
Luke 23:12
Luke 23:12
The crowd's passionate hate for and cruelty of Jesus shown in today's reading became so intense. I found myself thinking of days prior when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As He rode in on a donkey, He was praised, adored and fanned with palm leaves. The crowds that shouted "Praise God! Blessings on the One who comes in the name of LORD!" now shouted "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"
What happened? How could they have turned so quickly and become so vile? It unfolded from the top down. The leading priests joined forces to incite the crowds. They used lies and half-truths to win support. Their plan was so successful that it united two men who were previously arch enemies.
Dangerous are the days when we fall in "with the crowd." Hatred can spread quickly. It is infectious. If we aren't careful we can become part of something we had no intention of being part of. We can become responsible for something we will regret later. Listen the words of the crowd, "And all the people yelled back, 'We will take responsibility for his death-and our children.'" (Matthew 27:25) Our actions have consequences that effect more than just ourselves.
Being part of the crowd can be dangerous. You may be asked to pay a price too high and placed in situation that you will regret forever. I want to believe the crowd that day, lived with regret.
It is hard not join the crowd. We can only do it by daily yielding to the power and presence of our Advocate, sometimes yielding minute by minute.
11 Comments:
Wendy,
I was also moved by Matt. 27:25. In the NIV it reads "His blood be on us and on our children." What a statement! They did not know what they asked for or what they did! They did not know the power of Jesus' blood. Such a statement; both a blessing and a curse! It was a curse to the leaders who incited it. The guilt lay on them.
And it is a blessing to those who have received it; his blood sets us free!
Isaiah 53:3-5
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Did you notice that God did not leave people silent when his Son was suffering? When his friends and family were afraid, strangers spoke on his behalf. Pilot's wife made intercession for Him and Pilot himself saw His righteousness and found no fault in Him.
Luke 19:40
He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!"
God did not abandon His Son in His time of trial.
Blessings on you all today,
Karen, Basel
Wendy, I took notice of that alliance as well. Sadly, how true that can be even in our own lives. If something or someone upsets us, how quick we are to bond with another who is responding the same way. Our anger unites us and we fuel each other's flame.
Luke 23:23 said, "...the mob shouted louder and louder...and their voices prevailed." A classic example of the proverbial "squeaky wheel".
The verse that drew my attention was John 18:28, "His accusers didn't go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn't be allowed to celebrate the Passover."
I feel like responding with a great big "Ahhhhhhhhh". Poor them. Fear of being defiled kept them worshipping Jewish law, while harbouring murder in their hearts. They were so concerned with ceremony, they were missing the significance. Satisfied with the mundane while bypassing the magnificient. Didn't want to miss the Passover, while crucifying the Passover Lamb.
C.S.Lewis writes, "Satisfied with mud puddles, when you could have had a day at the oceans."
So ironic. Yet we go there too. We can be so caught up in programs and plans, ritual and religion, we miss personal relationship.
Father, may I not be satisfied with less of You. May the 'doing' leave me empty so the 'being' can fill my hungry soul. Lord, more than anything, I want You.
His,
Joy
"He (Pilate) knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy" (Matt. 27:18). Pilate should have released Jesus, but he was afraid of the hateful swarming people, so, he chose to save face. With the looming riot growing, "he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. The responsibility is yours!" (Matt. 27:24) Pilate allowed his intimidation to rule his decision; he gave in to those around him.
Like Wendy said, "it is hard not join[ing] the crowd." There is only one way & that is to abide in Him. Minute by minute. God's Word teaches us not to just hear the Word, but to actually do the Word. The more we stay in His Word, the closer our relationship becomes with our Father, and the more we are tuned into His whispers. Being close to Him is the only way His faint whisper will over-rule the loud voices we hear from people around us. May we know God's Word so well, that we do not allow ourselves to be tricked by those around us. May we seek to stand up for what is right, even if it means we will be ridiculed and looked down upon.
Oh, dear LORD, I so badly want my heart's desire to please you, rather than those around me. Give me confidence and knowledge of your Word to do this. Thank you for your Spirit guiding me and teaching me.
Make it a great day friends, abiding in Him! Lori - AZ
PS It was so fun reading through the comments yesterday and seeing all the new people preparing to come on board with us. It's a journey you will not want to ever end! I remember so vividly a year ago, being in your place. Scared. I had never "blogged," before, so I had no idea what I was getting into. God led me to pray, about a year ago after I had purchased my Bible, to arrange time in my day so that I would be able to do this reading. To open my mind to His scriptures. To not give up, but to complete this goal that I had so badly wanted to do! To know Him at a much deeper level. Oh, dear friends...He more than met me! He has drawn me so very close to Him this past year. Each day my relationship with Him gets stronger; His whispers are more frequent. I realize how important it is to read His Word, all of it, day by day. Over and over again, so that we will be ready to meet Him, face to face. It's the most important thing we can do every single day.
Again, another day of "Wow!". I have to journal all of the thoughts and precepts I have gleamed today. It's HUGE!
I am so thankful for all of you; Wendy, Karen, Joy...thank you for sharing your insight. There is just so much for us to learn here, so much that needs to become a part of my thinking.
Karen, I love how you brought it together with "both a blessing and a curse!". It was again another ah ha moment when you quoted the OT scriptures. Then to sum it up we see that even when his followers left him out of fear, God didn't leave him. It was clear to Pilot that He was innocent.
Joy, I too noticed how caught up with The Law the Jewish leaders became. As if going through the motions would rectify the sin in their hearts. Relationships....I need to embedd that deep in my heart.
Recently, a neighbor of ours was held at gun point by her husband. Afraid of him, others offered her no help. Once notified of the situation, without hesitation I went over to her house and put her in my truck. She fearfully told me that by helping her I was in jeapordy. My reply was simply, "It's OK, God is with us." I do not always act so boldly. Yet, I know that God was there and he will continue to be there. Please keep her and my family in your prayers. Her husband goes before the judge on Wednesday asking to be bonded out until trial. He told my husband, "I had you in my cross-hairs twice but I wanted you to know who was going to kill you." My husbands response was,"I am not afraid of death; it means I will see my Savior and my daughter again."
In Christ Jesus,
nancy
Matt 27:25 was the scripture that I underlined too. What really struck me was - "we and our children" I often ponder and consider my actions and what effect they will have on my children and grandchildren. I know that what I do is a ripple in a pond and touches all those around me, good or bad. I am striving for it to be good.
I was just explaining to someone this weekend that battles fear, that the only way I could overcome my battle with fear and People Pleasing was to be completely emerged in Gods word daily. That way every time a vain imaginations would try to come at me I could fight it with the word like Jesus "It is written".
It is horrible to know, my former self, fearful of making waves, not strong enough to stand on my own (which we shouldn't anyway)would have been in the crowd, and that saddens me.
Each day God's word proves to me how much I need Him, and how with Him I can do all things. I don't have to stand on my own. What I do I do for, with and through Him. That gives me the confidence I need to not be in the crowd. But we can't deceive ourselves, we need to be built up DAILY.
Karen, Joy and Lori, great comments! I almost didn't comment because it seemed like you covered it all and the way I felt... but I did.
Have a great day everyone!
Blessings,
Lynn
Nancy -
I am praying for you and your family and your friend. Thank you for stepping up, it was very bold.
Lynn
Nancy,
What a story! God was indeed with you! I am praying for you, your family and your friend too!
Karen
Not much can be added to what has been said this morning. I wept as I pictured the crowds gathered chanting "crucify him, crucify him." My heart aches when I think about the decisions made that day from the crowd.
I know Jesus knew the outcome and loved it when he said "My Kingdom is not an earthly Kingdom."
Being one of the crowd and following what they say reminds me so often of what I teach my children.
The day I was assaulted breaking up a fight at school. Kids were gathered 5 and 6 deep chanting and yelling. Looking back I don't think any of them even knew who or what the fight was about. It was all about the idea of "being there and yelling for someone to get hit." Getting sucked into the vortex of the moment. Yes, there is painful fallout and lasting pain from moments of "being part of the crowd." But today I can think of no other instance that had such a better outcome as the story of Christ.
I feel that right now is the meat of the word and am so hungry.
Love ya,
Diane
Way to be brave Nancy. We are reminded many times in His word to be brave, bold, and do not fear. You obeyed. Praying for you and your neighbor(s).
Did you notice that Barabbas was "set free" and Jesus died in his place? I wonder if he was ever really "set free" like we know it to be.
Thank you Jesus for setting me free.
Morgen - MN
Enjoyed your post today. I had simular thoughts today about how some choices and decisions we make effect not only us but our children and future children. And then I read your post. What a powerful statement they made for them and their children! Makes a body think.
Amen to all you sisters have said today. Nancy, what a story to share of Christ's strength and His peace!
Thoughts turned towards the cross,
Brandee
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