Maundy Thursday: Are you part of the crowd?

But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted. 

Luke 23:23-25, The Message Bible

Who were these people? Is it possible they were the same ones who just days before welcomed Jesus to their city with more than just open arms, but with palm branches and halleluiahs? And now they wanted him crucified? Surely someone in the crowd saw how wrong this was and stood up to the rest. Not hardly.

I wish I could believe that all of the believers had suddenly left Jerusalem that day, that the entire population had indeed been replaced with thieves and other criminals, people who would want another criminal released instead of a man of peace.  Wouldn’t that be easier to understand?

We still see the same thing in our society today. How often is it that the noisy few are the ones to be heard, the ones who quickly gather others around them?

I’m not a sociologist or any kind of professional in human nature. I don’t know why it is so hard to stand up for what you believe in. I don’t know why it is so much easier to cave to the few strong people around you, no matter if you agree or not.

All I do know is that somehow God was able to forgive them all. And that means that mankind still has a chance. 

No, not an angry crowd, but a crowd just the same. A group of Maasai, and white volunteers, gather at Saikeri for their own mini-olympics.