What Jesus Did : Luke 23:17-25 - Their Voices Prevailed
by Phil Ware
Their Voices Prevailed - Luke 23:17-25
But all the people shouted, "Kill him! Let Barabbas go free!" (Barabbas was a man that was in jail because he started a riot in the city. He had also killed some people.) Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free. So again Pilate told them that he would let Jesus go. But they shouted again, "Kill him! Kill him on a cross!" A third time Pilate said to the people, "Why? What wrong has he done? He is not guilty. I can find no reason to kill him. So I will let him go free after I punish him a little." But the people continued to shout. They demanded that Jesus be killed on the cross. Their shouting became so loud that Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. The people wanted Barabbas to go free. Barabbas was in jail for starting a riot and for killing people. Pilate let Barabbas go free. And Pilate gave Jesus to the people to be killed. This is what the people wanted. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Pilate didn't have the will to buck the crowd's will. Instead, he read the poll numbers and followed the will of the crowd rather than doing the right thing. So Pilate "delivered Jesus over to them to do as they wished." They had requested that a murderer be released and Jesus be crucified. As insane as this seems, this is what often happens when the crowd determines the agenda. All throughout Jesus' ministry, the crowd has sought to possess him and make him into what they wanted him to be. Jesus wouldn't let them. Now the crowd will call for his death because they couldn't make Jesus do their bidding. The crowd gets its wish with Pilate. Will the crowd get its wish with us and with our lives? Or will we choose Jesus and the way of the Lord? Let's remember that the way of Christ is quite often unacceptable to the crowd. If we ever doubt this truth, all we have to do is to be reminded of the Cross and the Savior.
Today's Prayer
Father in heaven, help me never base my life on the will of the crowd, but to have the courage to live the way of the Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Pilate called all the people together with the leading priests and the {Jewish} leaders. Pilate said to them, "You brought this man (Jesus) to me. You said that he was trying to change the people. But I judged him before you all. I found no wrong that he had done. Jesus is not guilty of the things you say. Also, Herod found nothing wrong with him; Herod sent Jesus back to us. Look, Jesus has done nothing wrong. He should not be killed. So, after I punish him a little, I will let him go free." But all the people shouted, "Kill him! Let Barabbas go free!" (Barabbas was a man that was in jail because he started a riot in the city. He had also killed some people.) Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free. So again Pilate told them that he would let Jesus go. But they shouted again, "Kill him! Kill him on a cross!" A third time Pilate said to the people, "Why? What wrong has he done? He is not guilty. I can find no reason to kill him. So I will let him go free after I punish him a little." But the people continued to shout. They demanded that Jesus be killed on the cross. Their shouting became so loud that Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. The people wanted Barabbas to go free. Barabbas was in jail for starting a riot and for killing people. Pilate let Barabbas go free. And Pilate gave Jesus to the people to be killed. This is what the people wanted.-- Luke 23:13-25 (ERV)
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