Wednesday of Holy Week (April 16). THEIR VOICES PREVAILED

Prepare to Listen.  O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!  (Ps 118:1)
 
Prayerfully Read Luke 23:13-25, 48
13Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.  15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us.  Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.  16I will therefore have him flogged and release him.’  18Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow!  Release Barabbas for us!’  19(This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)  20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; 21but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’  22A third time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?  I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’  23But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.  24So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.  25He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
48And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts.
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
Read the passage again and pay attention to Jesus.  What did you learn?
 
“Their voices prevailed.”  Jesus’ voice is silent.  Pilate’s voice is drowned out.  But their voices prevailed.  Pilate said to them, “I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.”   Three times he offered to release an innocent Jesus.  Three times they rejected him.  They cried, “Crucify, crucify him!”  Instead of Jesus they chose Barabbas, a convicted felon and an instigator of an insurrection to overthrow the government.  He was popular since he stood boldly and violently against Rome.  They chose evil over good; the profane over the holy; nationalistic violence over suffering love; hatred over compassion; lies over truth.  And their voices prevailed.  Pilate caved and granted their demand.  He released the convicted felony, instigator of an insurrection and “handed Jesus over as they wished.”
 
At first, they were euphoric.  They got what they wanted.  They rejected their true King for a man willing to violently crush the Roman occupiers.  They had no clue what a bad choice they’d made as they excitedly followed Jesus to the cross to see, what Luke calls “a spectacle.”[1]  But their euphoria was cut short when they saw and heard Jesus die.  At the foot of the cross, face to face with Jesus they also saw themselves for who they truly were.  Their eyes were opened, and they realized what they’d done.   They went home “beating their breasts,” a sign of shame, regret and repentance.  They changed their minds.  They’d made the biggest mistake of their lives, the wrong choice.  They’d chosen a convicted felon, an instigator of an insurrection over Jesus, their Messiah and King, they’d chosen the kingdoms of the world over the Kingdom of God, a mistake they’d have to live with for the rest of their lives.  
 
Jesus’ death wasn’t a mistake.  But would you like to have made the same choice as that crowd made?  What is your choice today—the Kingdom of God or the world; nationalistic violence or suffering love; hatred or compassion and empathy?  You choose.
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord, give me wisdom to discern the good from the bad, and the courage to stand up for the good, for you.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Be courageous.  Choose rightly, the Jesus Way.
[1] Some crucifixions  became party-style celebrations for spectators.