People can exercise great influence by uniting to get what they
want. In some cases evil dictator governments have been toppled by
the people standing together.
But it is not always good for people to get what they want!
Here is the true story of an evil demonstration of people's power -
and you will have a decision to make, because popular
opinion still wants the same wickedness repeated today!
The religious leaders had tried, without success, to have Jesus
silenced by the Roman governor, Pilate. They wanted rid of Jesus
because He taught a different message than they wanted to believe.
Jesus taught that He was the Way to God, and that His
message was Truth, and that He alone could give Eternal
Life to those who trusted in Him. He taught that all who
rejected Him would be rejected by God. 1*.
Pilate had examined Jesus but found He had done nothing to deserve
death. Therefore, he said he would punish Him and then release Him.
2*.
But the priests knew that if they were to continue to have
authority as spiritual leaders and teachers then Jesus must be
sacrificed - He must be disposed of! So they "persuaded the
crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed."
3*.
"With one voice they cried out, ‘Away with this man! Release
Barabbas to us!' (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an
insurrection in the city, and for murder.) Wanting to release
Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting,
‘Crucify Him! Crucify Him!'" 4*.
The priests and people wanted a criminal instead of Christ!!
How easily the Devil seems to be able to blind people's minds and
hearts to the truth and to what is good for them! 5*.
"..They insistently demanded that Jesus be crucified." Pilate
"decided to grant their demand. He .. surrendered Jesus to their
will." 6*.
The thinking that Jesus is disposable continues to this day,
encouraged by religious leaders who do not want people to believe
that Jesus is the only Priest and Saviour! Somehow they have
convinced people that Jesus should still be sacrificed - again and
again! They want to appear superior to Jesus by being able to take
Him in their hands and sacrifice Him, as "wicked men" once
did! 7*. They no
longer crucify Him - instead they claim to bring
Him to an altar and claim to break His body and pour out his
blood - again and again and again!! Crowds of people flock to
churches thinking their priests have this "power" to take and
sacrifice Jesus when they please!!
God did allow His perfect Son, Jesus, to be sacrificed
once! In this Jesus was making the once and for all
sacrifice that God demanded from our Saviour as payment for our
sins! 8*. - an event
to be REMEMBERED by a SUPPER of bread and wine. 9*.
Who is your priest? Is it Jesus in Heaven; the One who "finished"
the payment for all sins by His death on the cross? 10*. Or is your priest someone
on earth who claims you need to go to him to get forgiveness and
who would still say, "Let's sacrifice
Jesus!" as these did in Luke's Gospel chapter 23, verses
13-25?
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
For the next reading from Luke's Gospel go to NEXT
In order to browse further "Good News Compage" prompts and
commentary for Luke's Gospel check out the review index.
---------------oOo---------------
Bible quotations from N.I.V.
1 John 14:6.
3:16-19.
2 Luke 23:13-17.
3 Matthew 27:20. John
11:47-51.
4 Luke 23:18-21.
5 2nd Corinthians 4:4.
John 3:19.
6 Luke 23:22-24.
7 Acts 2:22-24.
8 Hebrews 9:24-28. 1st
Peter 3:18. 2:24.
9 1st Corinthians
11:23-25.
10 John 19:30. Hebrews
10:11-18.
