What Would I Have Done?

Having grown up in the church and heard the Easter story year after year I thought that I would never have been among the crowd that shouted for Jesus’ crucifixion in exchange for the release of Barabbas. It was easy to think that way because I had all the facts. At that time the people didn’t have all the facts and furthermore, they did not fully comprehend the facts they did have. A few years ago as I reconsidered the story of Palm Sunday and Good Friday I realized that I could very well have been among the crowd screaming for Jesus to be put to death. Why?

As I see it, the people were disillusioned and misinformed. They were under the impression that Jesus was a military Messiah, coming to release them from their oppressors. They were expecting Him to defeat their enemies, destroy strongholds and set them free from political tyranny. Many of the people who lined the streets on Palm Sunday to welcome Jesus to Jerusalem had spent time with Him as He travelled through the countryside preaching, teaching and performing miracles. Others had simply heard about this amazing man who had incredible abilitiess. They were focused on, expecting and looking for a show of force, an expression of power. They wanted Jesus to remove them from Roman domination and to release them to freedom. When He did not do these things they were incredibly disillusioned and broken-hearted. They cried out to take away the title of honour they had given Jesus just a few days before, that of Messiah, because they did not know Jesus for who He truly was. Is it any surprise then that when they were given the choice of allowing Jesus or Barabbas to go free that they chose Barabbas? At least Barabbas had made an actual attempt to attack the Romans. He had shown some evidence of being a political freedom fighter and that’s what the Jews were looking for.

This is what led me to believe that I was perfectly capable of being among those who called out for Jesus’ crucifixion. Why? All too often I expect Jesus to be something He is not; I want Him on my terms, not on His. I am looking to Him to give me all the things I want and when He does not, I am sorely disappointed to the point of questioning His power and His love for me. I know the Bible speaks about going through trials and tribulations and I even know that those trials and tribulations can have a positive outcome – if I let them - but in the middle of my disappointment and pain I don’t want to think that way. I want a quick fix. I want God to unleash His incredible power and just fix everything without me having to struggle and experience heartache. So I cry out to Him with comments like “Where are you?...Why have You abandoned me?...Don’t You care?...What happened to Your power?”

Can any one identify?

I came to realize that I need to know Jesus as the Who that I worship, not the What that I use. Jesus never misrepresented Himself when He walked the earth. He lived a humble, lowly life. He never wielded power in a political or military manner. Even His entrance to Jerusalem was filled with noteworthy imagery. He rode on a donkey – a respected animal but one that held the significance of meekness, peace and gentleness. During His 3 year ministry, Jesus told the people who He was – Shepherd, Friend, The Way, The Truth and The Life.

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:11

"You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.” John 15:11-15

“Jesus told him, ‘I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6

He also told them why He came to earth. To save the lost, to heal the sick and give us life.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:11

“When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mark 2:17

“I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10

If the Jews had truly understood this, I believe they would not have been calling for Jesus’ crucifixion. What about me? I want and need to be focused on Who Jesus is so that when I am faced with disappointments in my life, I will not turn on Him but will trust Him to lead me through those difficult times and in doing so, make me more like Him. I need to remember that it’s all about His agenda, not mine.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Underlying much of what I have shared is the fact that being committed to Jesus should not be about what we get out of it but it should be about relationship. Even so, the Bible does tell us that there are benefits…

“I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 (Amplified Bible)

“Now this is eternal life...that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” John 17:3

“I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery! I'm telling you this because I don't want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries, or "the Secret." Colossians 2:2-4 (Message)

As Good Friday approaches, I want to renew my commitment to know Jesus so that when I face my next trial I will call His name not because I want to dethrone Him as Lord of my life but simply because of who He is to me - The Way, The Truth and The Life, my Shepherd and my Friend.

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having righteousness of my own that comes from the law but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” Philippians 3:8-10