Here we are in Holy Week. That time when we meditate on the last human days for Jesus and all which takes us on a roller coaster ride of emotions to the end of the weekend. I am reading a different-type of Lenten devotional this year, recommended by a good friend, entitled “40 Days of Decrease” by Alicia Britt Chloe. Each day describes Jesus’ journey of his ministry, and these last 2 weeks are getting more emotional and tense for me. You know how it is when you know what’s coming? There’s the emotional, horrible physical torture and burial on Friday and then the miraculous, glorious result on Sunday morning.
During this Holy Week, I have pondered something - the crowds who surrounded Him. As Jesus rides the donkey into Jerusalem, there is a huge crowd of people cheering Him on. They were laying down their cloaks for Him & his donkey to walk on; waving the palm branches in their hands; celebrating Jesus as their King. Read the following accounts:
Mark 11:8-10 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!
Praise God in highest heaven!”
Luke 19:36-38 36 And as he rode along, the people spread clothes on the road in front of him. 37 When Jesus was starting down the Mount of Olives, his large crowd of disciples were happy and praised God because of all the miracles they had seen. They shouted,
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory to God.”
What a joyous occasion for this jubilant crowd who followed Jesus and witnessed His miracles; his healings. They knew that their long-awaited King was finally here. Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! (Mark 11:10)
But then what happened baffles me! A few days later, the crowd wants Jesus killed, crucified! Of course, those leading this group are the chief priests and the elders. They have been attempting to do this for so long. But who are the others in this crowd???
Mark 15:11-15 ...the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?”
13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!”
14 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”
But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”
15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
Matthew 27:20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.
Are these some of the same people who were praising God a few days earlier; or some passersby who didn’t really know what was going on & joined in; or some who were going along with their friends’ actions; or some who really did not like Jesus and what He taught; or some who were afraid of the chief priests and elders?
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE YELLING TO CRUCIFY JESUS?
There are various opinions about whether or not they were the same people. I believe that some of them had to be the same people. However, that is not my main point here.
Make sure you are with THE RIGHT CROWD before giving your heart and soul to them/their beliefs. Some of these people were supporters of Jesus until the end, but there were many who did not like Jesus. As the scriptures told us, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd; the leading priests stirred up the crowd. This is what a passionate group of people can/will do. Regardless of the topic (politics, religion, government, etc.), a crowd can sway a person’s opinion/values through their emotional stirrings.
Therefore those of us who believe in Jesus Christ must be strong, firm, and passionate about our faith and our belief in our Savior. We cannot let other groups stir us into believing anything different! Is your faith strong enough to stand up to the crowd? To the right crowd? Is it strong and steadfast enough to swim up a waterfall?
Thanks for stopping by,
Rachel
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