Wishing to Satisfy the Crowd – An Easter Snippet

“So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” *

Reading through the crucifixion account I was struck by the phrase “wishing to satisfy the crowd.” Pilate had Jesus crucified even though Pilate knew Jesus was innocent…to satisfy the crowd. Though tempted to condemn Pilate for this,  I shuddered to think how many times I’ve done wrong things because I feared other’s opinions. However, Proverbs 29:25 says, “the fear of man is a snare” and here’s why.

In society, whether it’s bullying, discrimination, how we treat the poor, yielding to peer pressure at work, or believing that divorce is no big deal, “the crowd” is often wrong. One reason is we’re told to “follow your heart.” The Bible says the heart is deceitfully wicked. ** As a result we usually find

Crowd + Heart = Trouble

However, it’s interesting that Jesus went against the crowd.

Love your enemy

Die to self

Flee from evil

You can’t love money and God

But going against the flow has a cost. Jesus found this to be true:

Doing the right thing + Crowd = Death

Jesus never did anything wrong, but was crucified by the crowd. Likewise, if we go against the masses we too may be killed by the opinions of those around us. You deserve to have unforgiveness toward your parents after all they did. You’re a fool for tolerating your unloving spouse. Honesty is for suckers. But on Easter morning (Resurrection Day) Jesus proved that in death there is life.

Doing the right thing + Jesus = Life

Jesus said, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” *** Overcoming the adult children of divorce issues we discuss on this site all require giving up something—often a part of ourselves, but when Jesus fills the gap we gain far more than we lose. Stable relationships, fulfilling marriages, peace, joy, self-control, and much more are available through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

When we confess that we’ve sinned against God, and accept that Jesus took those sins from the cross to the grave with Him (Good Friday), God offers us forgiveness and a new life (Easter) and daily strength through His Holy Spirit to overcome the issues we face. True healing starts with Jesus.

When we invite Jesus to be the Lord of our lives we receive the power of God’s Holy Spirit to overcome sin, addictions, and parental divorce issues like anger and fear. Click here to learn how you can have your sins forgiven and receive God’s  Holy Spirit. Make this your happiest Easter ever!

* Mark 15:15 ** Jeremiah 17:9 *** Matthew 10:39