This weighty chapter describes the events around Jesus’ crucifixion – the trial, mocking, beating, declaration of guilt / innocence, mob-like crowd, His death, and His burial.
“Pilate addressed [the crowd] once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ A third time he said to them, ‘Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death…’ But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.” (v20-25 abr)
It’s so easy for me to think that I would remain “a good and righteous man” like Joseph from Arimathea, and not consent with Jesus’ execution (v50-51). Yet, in reality, I can be swayed by the extreme pressures from this world.
God has placed a deep-rooted need for belonging and approval within all of us. In a perfect scenario, we would seek God alone to meet these needs. Unfortunately, we can easily seek earthly sources of approval / belonging, and become ‘one of the crowd’. Everyone I know (including myself) who has sought belonging / approval in the wrong place, later admits they felt unsatisfied, empty, and often broken by what the world offers.
I encourage us to avoid seeking fulfillment or approval from the world. I realize there’s a fear of disappointing people, but that fear is not from God (in fact, perfect love [God] drives out such fears). Jesus certainly valued God’s approval over mankind’s, hence His earthly execution. It’s far better to risk disappointing the world while seeking God’s approval, than risk the opposite.
Father God, our Sovereign Lord and King, we worship and adore You. Thank you for reminding us that our identity, fulfillment, and approval come from You primarily. If those in this world and / or of this world also approve of us, because they Jesus through us, that’s great! Please help us not to seek belonging / approval / fulfillment in the world as our primary goal. To You be all honor, glory, praise and obedience, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training