I recently read through the gospel of Luke, and Chapter 23 has been weighing heavily on my mind.
Luke 23 tells us how Pilate didn’t find any basis for charges against Jesus.
He tells the crowd that he is going to release Jesus.
But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man!”
Verses 20,21 says, “Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!””
But Pilate stood his ground. For the third time, he told the crowd he was going to release Jesus.
But then…
Luke 23:23 says, “But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.”
As I read this, it was like sirens started going off; warning signals were flashing; WARNING!
Doesn’t this sound like what we face so often today?
Aren’t we often the silent majority?
We justify it by thinking, “well, we are supposed to love everyone…”
And the loud voices prevail…
As followers of Christ, we have to move past believing that loving everyone is the same as accepting or agreeing with everyone.
We aren’t called to accept all behavior.
We aren’t called to agree with everyone.
We can love. But we must also stand up and speak up for Truth.
We must stand firm.
1 Corinthians 16:13 says, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
Philippians 1:27 says, “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
We need to learn from Pilate.
He knew what was right.
He even wanted to what was right.
He even tried to do what was right three times.
But he couldn’t stand firm. He gave in.
If we want to be different, we have to read and study God’s Word. We need to pray for strength and help. We have to seek God above everything else.
Because If we don’t put on the full armor of God;
If we don’t stand firm in the faith;
If we aren’t strong and courageous;
If we don’t speak the truth;
If we don’t follow God’s example;
The loud voices will prevail again.
