Devotion: The Crowd

But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. Luke 23: 21-23

“And their shouts prevailed…”

How often have you been in a large crowd? At a Husker football game, a concert at PBA, or a Black Friday sale? I’m not a fan of any of those situations. Don’t get me wrong, I love the event, just not the proximity of the people surrounding me. Something happens, just like Pastor Greg reminded us, when the masses converge. Our moral compass gets adjusted and ‘mob mentality’ takes over. Folks say and do things they would not individually do.

I would like to think that I would NOT have shouted, “Crucify him!” But could my one small voice have been enough against an angry crowd? Every year our wonderful drama team portrays this scene, and the actors shout those words. My eyes fill with tears. My human frailty  is no match for the evil in the world.

When Pastor Eric continued Sunday’s worship service, he said, “We are not a crowd in church, we are a community .” That struck me as so comforting. We are working together for a better world. We have a voice, against the evil, to do good things in the world. Even though evil is out there, good can prevail!

Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to do the right thing. Give us strength to do Your will. Be with us to serve others and use our voices for good.  Amen.

Written by Cindy Swanson