Scripture
Vs 1 … the whole company of them arose … 2 And they began to accuse (Jesus), Vs 5 … they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people …”
Vs 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him … he was hoping to see some sign done by him.
Vs 9 (Herod) questioned (Jesus) at some length, but (Jesus) made no answer.
Vs 18 … they all cried out together, “Away with this man …”
Vs 23 … they were urgent, demanding with loud cries … And their voices prevailed.
Vs 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Vs 48 And all the crowds … when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.
Vs 50 Now there was a man named Joseph … a good and righteous man, Vs 51 … who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.
Observation
We have Luke’s telling of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Jesus is before Pilate and Herod, but it is all prompted by “the whole company”, who are the religious leaders, and “the crowd”, who are the people gathered to watch.
Vicious and hypocritical lies and accusations were made against Jesus.
Everyone had their own motivations for their interaction with Jesus.
The religious leaders wanted to keep power.
Pilate wanted to keep the peace and wash his hands of controversy and conflict.
Herod wanted a personal sign.
And the crowd wanted action … a response to their outrage, and they wanted it now!
Jesus gave none of them what they wanted … “he made no answer”.
But Jesus did offer them what they needed … “forgive them”.
One person is singularly pointed out, Joseph of Arimathea, as being good.
He did not consent to demands.
He was looking for the Kingdom of God.
Application
It’s easy to “prevail”.
This is the phrase that stands out to me this morning … “their voices prevailed”.
“Their voices prevailed.” … They got what they wanted and when they wanted it!
And I associate getting what you want, when you want it, as a victory.
This is a “win”! … I “prevailed” if I get what I want when I want it.
And this interaction gives the ingredients to supposedly “prevail”.
It’s almost formulaic …
“They all cried out together” … “they were urgent” … “they demanded with loud cries”!
Want to prevail with “the crowd”? … BE TOGETHER … BE URGENT … BE LOUD!
This is the tyranny of the mob. … And the mob often gets its way.
Whether it’s townspeople with pitchforks and torches or social media trolls with clicks and comments … The mob often “prevails”.
But I cannot “prevail” in both the Kingdom of man and the Kingdom of God.
To “prevail” in the kingdom of man is to ultimately end up “returning home beating my breast”.
I am given, however, the ingredients of how to respond and act in the face of “the crowd”.
If the mob acts together, demands urgency, and cries the loudest, I must be willing to stand alone, see eternally, and remain quiet.
Joseph of Arimathea “did not consent” to the crowd.
Joseph “was looking for the Kingdom of God”.
And Jesus “made no answer” to the false accusations.
Jesus came saying the Kingdom was “at hand” and “near”.
His death and resurrection has ushered in the Kingdom.
It’s easy for me to “prevail” in man’s kingdom … find a mob and join it!
But I must resist the mob … and seek first the Kingdom of God.
Prayer
Thank you, God, for your word
Help me see your Kingdom
Help me remain quiet when I should and speak when I should Help me resist the mod of man Open my mind and heart Holy Spirit In Jesus name Amen