HOLY WEEK REFLECTIONS
Thursday 28th March
Pilate is pressured by the crowds - Luke 23:13-16
Gary Bott writes:
The Crowd Goes Wild … Literally!
13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. 16 So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.” 18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”22 For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.
Luke 23:13-16
Have you ever been in an audience or a crowd where you just got swept along in the moment?
Consider a sports venue where the crowd cheers one minutes as an amazing piece of athletic skill is produced and jeer the next as a mistake is made in front of the thousands of paying fans!
As a football pastor at Billericay Town, we see this all too often and in a recent relegation season, the atmosphere became toxic at times, and you saw the nature of individuals and the mob, baying for something to be done!!!
Thankfully nobody was crucified, but the manager was released from their contract.
Here, before Pilate, we have a crowd who at the beginning of the week were cheering and welcoming the King of Kings and at the end of the week they were calling for his death.
Disappointment comes in many different ways and sometimes the right atmosphere creates a mob mentality, and Jesus ended up being victimised by the very people he came to save.
Unfortunately, we aren’t too different from this crowd. We see all too often a media and society disappointed with an issue and it stirs up judgemental attitudes in us that sweep us along and it can happen to us as Christians as well.
As we consider Maundy Thursday, we must reflect on the disappointments we see in society, but recognise that through the Cross of Christ, we have hope!
Romans 5:1 - 5 (NLT) reminds us that we can look upon the cross of Christ, not as a disappointment, but as a hope. A hope of eternal salvation.
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Life does come with its problems and trials, but in the light of Jesus’ trial and sacrifice we can be assured of the hope of the cross. It doesn’t disappoint. As we stand in the shadow of the cross and gaze into the empty tomb, we can be reassured that our endurance leads to strength of character and character gives us confident hope.
So let us not be one of the crowd, standing there in disappointment, let us stand with Christ, confident in His victory over death and life everlasting.
Prayer:
Father may we know that when disappointment comes our way, we can look to the empty cross and the empty tomb and know we are never disappointed in Jesus. Help us not to get caught up in the emotions of a crowd, but instead to look for hope in you and be led by your Spirit in all things.
Amen