Matthew 27:11-25…“Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’’ vss. 20-21
There is no doubt that the Romans were in charge of Jesus’ execution. It was what they did to maintain order in the territories they governed. But they also had concerns about public opinion—the governor did not want a riot to break out in Jerusalem during the festival. So Pilate put the decision about Jesus into the hands of the crowd. The problem is that crowds can easily be manipulated, and the Jerusalem crowd that welcomed Jesus into their city quickly turned on him. Perhaps they felt he had let them down. Maybe the religious leaders provoked them. We don’t know—all the Gospels say is that, in the span of a few days, their cries turned from “Hosanna” to “Crucify him!”
We know what that’s like. Our leaders are heavily dependent on public opinion, and they’ve become adept at using the changing communication landscape to promote their promises, pledges, and deceptions. From mass rallies to round-the-clock social media postings, they do everything they can to manipulate the desires of the people. And even when we’re aware of what is happening, it has become virtually impossible to ferret out the truth.
All we know for sure is that Jesus is the way and the truth. And maybe that’s all we need!
Thought for the Day: How am I being manipulated in these times?
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