The Crowd

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

THE CROWD

Matt 27:15-25

15 Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. 21 "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered. 22 "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" 23 "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" 25 All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

NIV

Now was the time for Jesus to become the Lamb that was slain for the world. He did not refute the charges that chief priests and elders brought against him. Once he had explained to Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world and Pilate realized he was no threat to Rome, as the thumped up charges of the chief priests claimed, he wanted nothing to do with any execution of Jesus. He also had the warning from his wife about her dream about Jesus. However this was still all going according to the plan God had before the foundation of the earth. In this setting we can see the behavior of man and how he can become nothing more than a pawn used by a few powerful people. It is doubtful the whole of the crowd was there to spring Barabbas and have Jesus crucified. It is most likely they were there out of curiosity of the happenings. Of course it was still a custom for the Roman Governor to release one criminal. The Governor make it clear he had found Jesus innocent of the charges and it would make the most sense for the crowd to call for his release. That certainly seems to be his intent. However the chief priests and elders created a mood in the crowd, persuading the crowd to call for the release of Barabbas. Here is the evil that resides in the heart of those supposed religious men. They would rather had a harden criminal released on the streets to strike again against society then to have Jesus,  an innocent man released, a man who has done nothing but brought goodness to society. But the worse part of this scene is the pawns, the mindless ones who allow a few to create this crowd mentality. We still see this scenario today in many places in our country. Protests created by a few powerful people persuading a crowd to follow their agenda. The methods of persuasion may vary, but the result is the same, a crowd controlled by a few. Mindless followers, not thinking for themselves, investigating the facts, seeing the truth. For that matter we even see this within the religious community. Some denominations have been lead to believe the certain gifts of the Spirit are from Satan. Some religious groups have been lead to believe Jesus is not God, only a god. Some groups have been lead to believe an angel came after Jesus with a new message. There are all types of crowd mentality throughout our culture. Look at the crowd who has followed ether the global climate change idea floated by a few to gain power. Look at the few powerful who have persuaded crowds to think one product is the superior one, or that we need to protect our lives with gold. On and on the scenario goes, there are always a few trying to develop a crowd to follow their cause.  This gives us reason to not be a part of the crowd, not to accept being persuaded by the few. God has given each of us the Spirit of truth. He has given us the gift of discernment to know the truth from falsehoods. He has given each of us a brain more powerful than any man devised device. Our brain is powerful enough to control every aspect of our body, both internally and externally. It keeps our heart pumping, as well as all our internal organs working without us even thinking about it. All the happenings that goes on internally occurs while we think about a wide range of things and do a multitude of activities.  Yet some yield that marvelous thinking device to the persuasion of a few supposed powerful people. Crowd mentality is a cruel and wasteful use of our brain. We all have the capacity to think for ourselves, to research the scriptures, to hear the voice of the Spirit, to discern the truth for our lives. When we talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus it defies the idea of a crowd. Yes, we should not forsake the assembling ourselves with other believers. Yes, we can be shown insights into the truth by others. But we are to test everything.

Rom 12:1-2

 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

NIV

This is the antithesis of crowd mentality. We are not to conform to the crowd, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Thinking on our own, then we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will. God has not hidden his will from us. But we cannot allow a few powerful thinkers, to persuade us otherwise. He reveals his good, pleasing and perfect will to each one of us who are willing to hear his voice rather than the crowd.