Tom Lund

John 19:14-16

Thursday, March 29

Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Here is your King." They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall i crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. – John 19:14-16

It is so easy to get caught up in the excitement of the crowd. Think of the fans at a sporting event, all rising from their seats in unison as the back breaks through the line and sprints toward the goal, as the ball sails over the wall in center field, as the jockey urges his steed into one final effort at the finish line, as one ultimate cage fighter beats the opponent into submission. 

It is also easy to blame those in the crowd for not curbing their enthusiasm, for not stepping aside to say, "Stop! This is wrong." It is so easy to assign blame, but I wonder if any of us, put in the same place, would have refused to join in shouting, "Crucify him!" Would I have had the wisdom to recognize the wrong or the strength to stand against the crowd? I have my doubts.

Questions for reflection:

• How can we learn to step out of the crowd?
• How can we become strong enough to keep from shouting to condemn? 

Prayer:

Lord, let your love flood my heart so there in no room for bigotry, for intolerance, for hate. Amen