|
Matthew 27:15-23
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” |
The angry crowd
In her book 'Life in the Big Story' Heidi Johnston describes a play that she attended recounting Jesus’ trial and Crucifixion. The play was staged in a warehouse with the scenes staged in different areas of the building.
As they came to the Crucifixion scene there were actors dotted among the audience who began to shout “Crucify Him”. Soon the crowd took up the chant, and before she knew it, she was carried along and without uttering a word she was part of the crowd.
In her book, she explains “At that moment I knew how easily I could have joined the angry mob who followed Jesus to the Cross. The realisation moved me to tears.”
Reading this passage, we can feel detached from the crowd and their actions but their rejection of Jesus is as relevant then as it is today.
In Romans 12 v 2 we are encouraged by Paul not to copy the behaviour and customs of this world, or to put it in the context of this passage – to follow the crowd. We are reminded that Jesus paid the ultimate price on the cross for our shortfalls, and He now calls us to bring God’s light into the world by living for Him.
Jesus came into this world to repair our broken relationship with God by dying on the cross. If we want this relationship to grow and flourish, we need to be careful that the world’s narrative through the media, doesn’t drown out God’s voice in our lives.
Siobhan J