IT IS NOT GOOD TO GO ALONG WITH THE CROWD

PROCLAMATION

“And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified.”  Mark 15:15 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to Mark, a companion Simon Peter.  After He was seized and arrested, Jesus was taken before the chief priests and the Sanhedrin council. (Mark 14:53)  They condemned Him to death and had the guards take Him to Pilate. (Mark 14:64-65 and 15:1)  With all of the accusations against Him from the chief priests, Jesus did not defend Himself before Pilate. (Mark 15:2-5)  It was the custom at the feast of the Passover to release one prisoner.  A man named Barabbas was in prison for insurrection and murder.  Pilate asked the chief priest if they wanted him to release Jesus to them, but the chief priests had stirred up the crowd to have Barabbas released.  They said crucify Jesus. (Mark 15:6-14)  Even though he found no fault in Him, (Luke 23:4) in order to please the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas and ordered that Jesus be flogged and crucified. (Mark 15:15)  Pilate tried to absolve himself of the blood of Jesus by ceremoniously washing his hands before the crowd, but he gave in to the crowd's request and ordered that Jesus to be crucified. (Matthew 27:24)  The soldiers led Jesus away from the palace and took Him to a place where they mocked Him, put a crown of thorns on His head, they hit Him, beat Him, and scourged Him. (Mark 15:16-20)  Then they led Him to the place called Golgotha, and there they nailed Him to a cross and placed Him between two thieves. (Mark 15:21-32)  After uttering seven different phrases, Jesus died on the cross. (Mark 15:32-41)  Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus, and he wrapped Him in linen, placed Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock, and rolled a large stone against the entrance. (Mark 15:42-46)

 

APPLICATION

Doing things just to please the crowd is rarely a good thing.  Also, it is never a good idea to go against your own principles in order to please the crowd.  Just because “everyone is doing it” does not mean that it is a good thing to do.  Going along with the crowd, especially for the sake of gaining popularity, usually leads to bad outcomes. (Matthew 7:13)  It is not possible to please man and to please God at the same time, we must choose one or the other. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13)  It is better to stand alone on The Word of God and walk God’s way than it is to be accepted by a worldly crowd. (Matthew 7:14)