Luke 23:1-25 - Choices
I have one question in my mind after reading this passage: why did the crowd choose Barabbas rather than Jesus?
I stand beside Pilate and listen to him saying he can find “no fault” in Jesus. He has done nothing wrong – nothing worthy of death. The perfect man.
I stand in the crowd rubbing shoulders with people who may have listened to Jesus’ teaching; who may have shared in the bread and fish supper when Jesus fed 5,000 people; who may have even known someone who Jesus had healed; surely no-one who had themselves been healed, and I ask myself again, why did they choose Barabbas, a murderer and freedom fighter?
Then I ask myself:
- What voices do I allow to influence me when making important choices?
- Do I listen to the crowds around me; the media telling me how I should live my life; the general clamour around me; or
- Do I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and wait quietly for the still small voice?
- Would I have found myself “in the crowd” who led Jesus away to be crucified?
I pray for courage to always choose Jesus and to walk the narrow way with Him.