Luke 23:18-25 (NLT)
18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”22 For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.
This is the account of Jesus after he had been arrested by the Roman guard. Jesus was brought before Pilate to be judged and Pilate found no wrong in Christ. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod who also found no wrong. It was then left up to Pilate as how to sentence Jesus, which he was opting for a flogging to satisfy the crowd. However the crowd shouted crucify him, crucify him. They even shouted to release Barabbas a prisoner who took part in an insurrection against the government in Jerusalem in exchange for the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate bowed to the will of the people and sent Jesus to be executed.
As I read this account of the people shouting out for the execution of Jesus I was reminded of recent media events. I watched as a mob of people stood outside the courthouse where Casey Anthony was being tried and shouted, “Justice for Caylee, Justice for Caylee” over and over again. I remember mobs of people standing outside the Anthony home shouting mean and cruel words. I saw people holding signs mocking Casey just as Jesus had a sign held against him to mock Him. Even with a mob of people calling out against Casey our justice system did what was right. The judge did not stop the trial and say, “You know there is a mob of people outside who would like to see Casey executed.” The judge did not hand her over to others for them to take action into their own hands. Instead the judge followed the laws this country lives by and is known for throughout the world. We are a country of grace when we do not have all the answers. Ultimately God does have all the answers and knows all the things that took place. Even though this family was called a family of secrets, there are no secrets to God. God knows the depths of each person’s heart and God will judge accordingly.
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