The Crowd Shouts, Crucify him!

The Crowd Shouts, Crucify him!

The biblical accounts from Luke 23 and Matthew 27:

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had wanted to see him; in fact, he was hoping to see him perform some sort of miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing our Lord in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate (for his sixth trial—three religious, and now the third civil). That day Herod and Pilate became friends--before this, they had been enemies.

Just who was Pilate? Pontius Pilate is remembered in history either very negatively, as a cruel man who hated the Jews, or more sympathetically as a governor who had a very difficult job ruling a province with a very unruly population, which easily took offense to his actions. He ordinarily resided in Caesarea, but was in town to keep Jewish Passover fervor in check. While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and release him."

'Punish Jesus?? Yes, it would mean a flogging, because Pilate hoped that would placate the Jews, and there would be no further talk of execution. Indeed, the flogging 'took place, it would appear, on the platform where the trial had been held, and in the eyes of the large crowd that had assembled. Jesus was stripped and stretched against a pillar, or bent over a low post, his hands tied, so that he had no means of defending himself. The instrument of torture was a sort of cat-o'-nine-tails, with bits of iron and bone attached to the ends of the thongs. The flogging was carried about by one or two trained Roman soldiers, whose blows cut Jesus’ skin and drew a lot of blood; in these sorts of floggings, the victim frequently died in the midst of the operation from so much blood loss. Pilate’s plan of releasing him depended on his being able to show the Jews that Jesus had suffered severely.1

So Jesus was mercilessly flogged and the crowd watched? What?! I can't help but wonder what faces could be found in that crowd. Where were the disciples, and why didn’t they vehemently shout, ‘This man has done no wrong! Why, we have watched him closely and learned from his loving ways; he talks like no rabbi we have ever heard. Why, you can’t flog Jesus!’ Did the disciples almost yell that out? Where was the formerly blind man who had sat by the gate of Jericho, given sight by Jesus just days before? How about Zacchaeus, whose life had been irrevocably changed by Jesus of Nazareth? How about Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, who Jesus had raised from the dead? Where was the wedding host, whose feast was rescued by Jesus' first miracle, changing water to fine wine? Did they ALMOST speak up? Did they ALMOST step forward?

I wonder if I would have yelled, 'Stop!'--of course, at the risk of my life.

Would you have spoken out for Jesus?

Do you now?

They crowd cried out together, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas"--a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection and murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him." But they were urgent, demanding that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. Pilate released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom the people asked-- 'he delivered Jesus over to their will.’2

Would you have spoken up? Then look for an opportunity to speak up today for your Lord.

Christine

PastorWoman.com

1 - "Pontius Pilate" Julian Spriggs, julianspriggs.com **The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, Pentecost

2 - Luke 23.18-25