The crowd was rapidly reaching the limits of his control. He didn’t understand it, but he knew it. Hateful words split the air punctuated by the shaking of angry fists. Bloodlust radiated from rebellion-etched faces. At any moment a riot would break out. The people were itching for a fight. Pilate couldn’t figure the source of their rage. The Man before him was clearly innocent. By his laws and theirs. There was nothing to prove otherwise. No laws had been broken. No crimes committed. No offenses worthy of death had been done. Yet the crowd screamed belligerently on. They wanted Him dead. Now. Today. They would do it themselves if Pilate wouldn’t. They would consider no other option. Given the choice of a sinner or a savior, the people’s answer was clear. Sinner. No matter what Pilate said. No matter how he tried to reason with them. No matter that they had no evidence to substantiate their claims. Their soul-deep hate resounded through the air to rest on his ears. “Crucify Jesus!”
Previous knowledge of the people’s choice did not assuage the stabbing, visceral pain their angry chants caused. Knowing how things were meant to go at this point of His life did not erase the dread of what was coming. Hearing Pilate plead His case before the raging mob was heartwarming, but Jesus knew it would change nothing. Not their minds. Not their cries. Not His destiny. It wasn’t meant to. He’d been born for this. That miracle pregnancy and birth thirty-three years ago had been the beginning of this entire mission. He was born to die. For those who now believed. For those yet to believe. For those who would never believe. For the people right here, right now, chanting and screaming and calling for His demise. The offer would still be the same. Their sins would become His. His life would be sacrificed for theirs. Jesus would die that they might live. Eternally. Whether they accepted it or not, everyone would be given the opportunity to choose. Sin or the Savior. The choice would be theirs. (Matthew 27:15-24; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-7; 23:18-23; John 18:38-40; Romans 5:17-21; I Corinthians 15:20-21; Hebrews 9:28)
A few short days ago, any number of people would have been certain this particular scene would play out differently. A crowd had assembled then as well. They weren’t angry. They weren’t raging. They weren’t upset at all. Quite the opposite. They were rejoicing. Singing. Praising. Joyously shouting. Blessed to be in His presence. Excitedly announcing to the world that their Savior, their King had come. The faces then had been wreathed in smiles, luminous with adoration. The hands had been raised in praise, waving palm branches in honor. A few days ago, when Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem on the back of a colt saddled with the cloaks of His disciples, His path had not been rocky or rough, dusty or dirty. No. It was paved with the garments of those who believed. The air split with the sound of singing. Praise surrounded the entire space. Voices lifted in glorious rejoicing because they had made their choice. Savior. For sinners. From sin. He was their God. They were His people. As they watched that particular portion of prophecy unfold on the road before them, they knew with absolute certainty they had made the right choice. On that day they weren’t afraid to own it. Loudly. But that was then. (Matthew 21:8; Mark 11:7-11; Luke 19:36-40; John 12:12-13; Zechariah 9:9)
Apparently the crowds who lined the streets welcoming Jesus’ triumphal entry were swamped with pressing duties today. Maybe they had taken ill. Perhaps they had medical appointments. More likely, they were terrified to come out and stand up against this crowd so precariously perched on the edge of sanity. Whatever the reason for their absence, they appear to have stayed at home. Except for the ones who turned up. Some of them were there. Silent. Still. Looking on at the erupting mayhem from alleged places of security. Some who originally mingled among the crowd in curiosity now drifted to the outskirts seeking safety from the imminent danger. A few peered from behind nearby shrubs, their timid faces periodically peeking out to assess the situation and determine when to entirely retreat. Their brows were furrowed. Their eyes were fearful. Their lips were fused shut. By failing to raise a dissent, they assented. Changed their choice. Self over savior. As the crowd maliciously yelled, “Crucify Him!”, their silence issued their consent. “Crucify Jesus.”
One wonders what caused them to come to that place. Did fear steal their voices? Shock render them silent? Terror freeze them in their hiding spots? With the looming riot before them, were they simply choosing self-preservation? Were they concerned for their lives and families and livelihoods? Had they been threatened with excommunication by the religious leaders who stirred up the crowd? Was the possibility of ridicule and persecution simply too much to bear? What, exactly, happened to make them switch their choice to earthly safety instead of eternal security?
Yes. I know. This was all in God’s plan. Jesus was born to die for your sin and mine, so we wouldn’t have to. I couldn’t be more grateful. Truly. But that’s the easy answer to our questions. Jesus was supposed to die. It was God’s plan. Nothing could stop it. Nothing would stop it. But. I still want to know why no one came and stood up, spoke up on His behalf. Not one person. Not a disciple. Not a follower. Not someone who had been healed. Not a man who had been fed. Not a woman who had been forgiven her adulterous ways. Not one person had the nerve, the gumption, the grit to step out of their comfort zone and selflessly take a stand for Jesus. Even His own disciples fled. The moment that armed mob hauled Jesus away, they went into hiding. Except Peter. (Matthew 26:56; Isaiah 53:5; I Corinthians 15:3; John 3:16)
Following at a distance so as to remain undetected, Peter made his way to the courtyard of the high priest. He wanted to know the outcome. He wanted to see if Jesus would extricate Himself as He had before. What he didn’t want was to be detected. Peter had no intention of going before the Sanhedrin to testify on Jesus’ behalf. He had no inclination of indicating his association with Jesus. But he didn’t have to say the words. People recognized him. His face. His accent. They said so. He denied it. Vehemently. Not once. Not twice. Three times. Just like Jesus said would happen. When faced with the opportunity to choose between self and the Savior, Peter chose himself. How often do you do the same? (Matthew 26:69-75)
The last time you were faced with the choice to stand up for Jesus, did you do it? With words? With actions? When it was hard? When no one else agreed with you? When you risked friendships or relationships to do so? Did you choose to stand on the sound teachings of the Book rather than be drawn aside by “empty talk and deception”? Did you choose God’s Word over the opinions and ideas of people? Did you find your soul craved the Savior more than the sin and selfishness of the world? In the heat of the moment, when answers were required, did your soul shake and sway toward the earthly safety of your sinful self or did you stalwartly stand in the eternal security of the Savior? (Titus 1:10-11; 2:1, 7-8, 11-14)
As you contemplate the events leading up to the crucifixion, I hope you spend extra time considering the choices made by the people present in those moments. Those who loved Jesus. Those who didn’t. Those who ran. Those who stayed. Those who spoke. Those who remained silent. I hope you realize you are faced with the same choices today. Will you stand up and identify with Jesus in a world that stands against Him? Will you sacrifice popularity for His presence? Do you believe Him worth risking your reputation and relationships, friendships and future? Are you ready to choose today between the same things the people of Jesus’ day had to choose? Sin and self or the Savior. Admittedly, there are pros and cons to each choice. One will make you popular on earth, the other will make you present in Heaven. So weigh your options. Carefully count the cost. Ask yourself if you are willing to trade earthly pros for eternal cons. Then choose. Now. Today. What will it be? Sin? Self? Or the Savior? (I Corinthians 16:13; Luke 14:25-33; Job 34:4; Joshua 24:15; Mark 10:17-22)