Have you ever been part of a public demonstration? You know where a mass of people gather and everyone is chanting a phrase, yelling and shouting about something their unhappy about?
Ok, maybe you’ve seen them on TV. You know, when something has happened and people are in huge disagreement about it. Remember, just a few weeks ago crowds of people descended on Queen’s Park in Toronto to express their anger and outrage over proposed cuts to education.
Ah now you remember! Yes, that was huge. This was and is a very deep concern for everyone. Without getting political, if you watched any news, listened to the radio or read an article you are fully aware of the sounds of outrage that were vented. You may have done some, “loud speaking” yourself….hmmm.
Well everyone knows when a crowd makes noise it can be heard from miles around. The goal is to have the right people hear you, listen to what you are saying and be influenced to make changes to the request or sometimes demands being made. Demonstrations by crowds are supposed to get these results but do they…..sometimes….not all times.
After 3 years of ministry, healing sick people, feeding them and all kinds of good works, people rose up in anger against Jesus. To the point there was a huge uprising and demonstration against Him to have him crucified. As we read in the scriptures (Matthew 27:11-26; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-23 and John 19:1-9), we get a view of each writer’s perspective of how this fight went down.
In a word, it was: intense. Pilate the governor heard the chanting of the people to “Crucify him! Crucify him!”. Yet Pilate was conflicted because the reasons he was hearing from the people did not line up with what he was seeing and hearing (or not hearing) from Jesus. Furthermore he was conflicted within himself. It seemed the more questions he asked, the less answers he was getting.
Matthew (27:18, ESV) writes “For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.” When he asked “Why? What crime has he committed?” they shouted all the louder “crucify him!”
I don’t think any of us would have wanted to be in Pilate’s position. I certainly would not. Pilate was confronted with a silent Witness and a loud jury yet he came to the conclusion as Luke writes “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” (verse 4). Pilate still had a mind of his own. His word would determine the outcome of this situation…..or would it.
It’s important to note that Pilot though a leader in charge was part of a bigger picture. He was surrounded by noise and angry voices just as we are today.
Every day we are surrounded with sounds. From the rings on our cell phone to Twitter notifications or ‘breaking news’ of some event or movie trailor. I am now getting notifications on one of my app’s every time someone who I’m “friends” with shares a scripture. Then there’s the annoying ads showing up while you’re are on webpage. There are constant buzzes and distractions to tune out. It may be email notifications, doorbells ringing, children crying for your attention.
Whatever the “crowd” of noise is we have to make a choice how we will respond. How much attention will you give to it? I myself must tell you that this is something I have to deal with on a daily basis also.
I could tell you I just close my eyes repeat scripture, affirmations and rebuke the devil but that would not be true. I do have to pray and ask the Lord to keep my mind focused on Him when having devotions. I do have to silence my phone or turn it off. I do have to make a commitment to myself to focus and get this devotional done, despite the temptation to get up and do something else. I find myself saying like Paul, the apostle: “For I do not do the good I want to do; but the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing”. Sounds like a tongue twister doesn’t it! It feels like it sometimes too.
I do have to pray and ask the Lord to keep my mind focused on Him when having devotions. I do have to silence my phone or turn it off. I do have to make a commitment to myself to focus and get this devotional done, despite the temptation to get up and do something else.
The crowd could represent sin; it will always be making noise, trying to distract you to do what it wants. You as an individual have to choose. Remember Pilate had to come to his own conclusion and make his own decision. It will be challenging for us, with all the noise and busy chatter going on inside and outside of us but we eventually make a decision.
God is always standing by to help us. To direct us, to give us guidance for next steps if we stop and cry out to Him. Yes, we can declare out loud: Lord, the crowd will not rule! God has the final say. Before Jesus was born of a woman God had a plan to send Him, the only one who could come, live and give His life as a sacrifice to break the curse of sin that separated us from Him. It was a plan that no demonstration, no trial could block!
Remember, there will always be noise around you. There will always be voices trying to get you to do what they want, dress like they want, speak like they want. When you focus on the King, delight yourself in what He wants He will give you the desires of your heart. At some point and time, the crowd must go home. The crowd will NOT rule! God has the final say.
Blessings!
Patricia A. Russell
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