Going along with the Crowd

Read John 18:28-40; Luke 23:23-25; (John 19:1-16)

The Crowds of today's society are becoming more and more combative and unruly. They have no interest in hearing the truth or reasoning. all they want to do is cause as much chaos as they can. Protests can be a good thing, our founding fathers even wrote it into the constitution. But when crowds become violent and start destroying property, then they are now breaking the law that was established to protect human life.

Here in our text we see a crowd that has formed and are demanding one thing, that Christ be crucified.This was a crowd that had no intentions of changing their mind. They knew what they wanted and they were going to get it no matter what. Have you ever heard of the squeaky wheel gets the oil? That is what this crowd was, a very load squeak. The loudest voice will be heard. So by way of introduction I want to first look at the crowd it self, then turn your attention to Pilate and see how a man of such authority could go along with the crowd.

Intro:

1. The Crowd will interpret truth to fit their own agenda v. 28-31

They were being such hypocrites, first they did not want to enter the judgement hall because they were following the Law of the Sabbath, then they said that it was against their law to put a man to death, yet throughout the Law of God it clearly speaks of times that they are to stone a man and claiming himself to be God is one of them

(Leviticus 24:16 KJV 1900): And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death

When it came time for them to do the hard stuff they didnt want to make the decision. They were interpreting truth to fit their own agenda. Sort of like the crowds of today, they do one thing but when it does not fit their agenda they dont want to hear it. They dont want to be made out to be the guilty party. Crowds will interpret truth to make themselves feel better.

2. The Crowd will push you into making a decision to appease themselves v. 38b-40

The Crowd would rather have a murder and robber out lose running around then the Son of God. v40

Pilate could have overruled them at anytime and released Jesus, but because of the crowd, Pilate gave in and appeased them. Pilate was more interested in what the majority wanted then what the Truth was. Dont we see that in todays society? The leaders know the truth, yet because they think the majority wants a murderer and a robber, they would rather release evil instead of stand for truth.

Now that we have seen the crowd that Pilate is dealing with, lets take a look at Pilate himself and see how one goes from being a ruler over the crowd to going along with the crowd.

I) The Cowardliness of Pilate v. 1-7

Pilate feared the people and because of this fear, he thought he would just punish Christ and that would satisfy the crowd. (Cross: Luke 23:16) Pilate did not even think Christ should be punished, “I find in him no fault at all.” There was no fault to punish for, yet he feared the crowd so bad that he was going to beat a guiltless man.

a. The Demands from the Crowd John 18:38 - 19:6a

The crowd gave Pilate one demand and thats all they wanted fulfilled. Crowds will give demands, they will try and scare you into thinking they are right and you are wrong. You will try time and time again to satisfy their demands without effecting your own morals. You may begin with changing the version of Bible you use, just to satisfy a demand. That wont be good enough for them so you begin changing your music, then your standards and so on and so on, until you begin changing your convection's which leads to a total decline in beliefs.

The crowds of today have no intrest in allowing you or me to serve who we want , they want you to worship the god they have set up. Pilates cowardliness showed up in the demands from the crowd it also showed up in the ...

b. The Distaste from the Crowd v.6a - 7a Ref.18:31 and Matt. 27:18

Pilate tried his best to please them without giving into their demand. He judged Him, then beat him, then humiliated Him. All to appease the crowd. Nothing worked, the crowd got louder and louder. Pilate could have stopped all of it with one word, but he was to cowardly . He knew the minute he did release Christ, they would rebel against him. How many times have you said nothing to your “friends” because you were afraid of what would happen? How many times have you been in a situation were it seemed like all that was needed, was fro you to speak up and tell the truth and it would solve the whole debate yet because of the distaste from the crowd around you, you have kept your mouth shut?

*So many Christians today coward down just because of the populous. They don’t want to upset the crowd. God tells us to be courageous 1Chron. 28:20 “And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD” Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart,All ye that hope in the LORD. Ps 31:24

We should never be a Pilate and give in to demands of the world when it comes to God.

II) The Conscience of Pilate v. 8-11

(Matt. 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.)

God has given every man a conscience and even a woman to keep him in line. This conscience is also referred to as the knowledge of good and evil. Pilate knew that the man he had in front of him was not guilty, he says multiple times, “I find no fault in Him.” How many times have you been aware that the one standing before you was right, yet because of the crowd you ignored this knowledge?

a. His Awareness v. 7b-9

Pilates awareness of the faultlessness of Christ was plainer then day. He attested to this fact many times. How many times have you known something to be true and had a choice to affirm it or deny it?

To those in here that are lost , how many times have you heard that Christ is the savior of the world and wants you to accept him? and you are aware of this truth yet because of the crowd you reject it?

2 Timothy 2:12–13 (KJV 1900): 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

b. His Attitude v. 10-12

Even though Pilate knew the innocence of Christ he still had a very prideful spirit. Know one was going to talk to him this way. No one is going to disrespect him like this man is doing. Sound familiar? You may be aware of the excellence of Christ, but every time He is preached to you, you buck up and say, “ Who is he to talk to me like that?

Prov.16:18 Pride goeth before destruction,And an haughty spirit before a fall.

Pilates attitude is really what got him to follow along with the crowd. Not only here but back in 18:38 he rejects the truth. His attitude was one of pride and anger. because here in v10 Pilate thought he was the one that could give life and take life. Your attitude may just be the one thing that is holding you back this morning from coming to an old fasion alter and being saved.

God gave you a conscience for a reason, so you would listen to authority and know when you have done wrong. But the problem you have is, you don’t want to be seen by the crowd as a weak individual, so you allow your pride to well up and you reject truth just so the crowd has a favorable view of you.

III) The Concession of Pilate v.12-16

Now we come to the worse part. Pilate gives in. He concedes

a. His Solicitation to the Crowd v. 13-15

Pilate attempts one last time to persuade the crowd .

This shows us the progression of what happens to someone that just goes along with the crowd.

He goes from being eager to settle the matter to

being exhausted to,

having had enough

and so he finally he concedes.

The crowd will were you down, they will get you to the point of pure exhaustion and finally they will beat you down to where you just throw in the towel.

b. His Surrender to the Crowd v.16

ref. Matt.27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Pilate finally had enough. In Matt. 27:24 he washes his hands of the matter.

When the crowd becomes to much for you, you will do as Pilate and wash your hands. You will just go along with the crowd.

Compromising and giving in to the crowd does not come without a cost,

there is no mention of Pilate coming to Christ,

there is no mention of Pilates family coming to Christ.

When you concede and give in, you not only effect yourself, but you effect all those around you.

Don’t do as the crowd wants you to do, do as God wants you to do.

Wont you stand up for Him today?

Ps 37:1 gives us the remedy for not compromising:

Question 1: Have you given into the crowds? Have you kept quite when you should have spoken up?

Question 2 : Sinner friend, have your rejected the truth in order to look strong in front of the crowd?

Question 3: What will you do today?