(A Good Friday Meditation)

How did the crowd get from “Hosana, Hosana” on Sunday to “Crucify Him, Crucify Him” on Friday?
How did their view of Jesus go from king to criminal so fast?

It was a grave case of Group Think — thinking in a way that discourages individual responsibility or critical thinking. It happens when people with a problem latch on too quickly to an answer — any answer – rather than searching to find the right answer. The victorious Sunday crowd that became the venomous Friday crowd fell into Group Think. Why?

Jesus did not look like they expected.
Royalty should have entered on a white horse through the front gate of the city.
Jesus rode a humble donkey (a useless colt, not yet trained for work) through the back gate.
Even so, the spark of an off-base idea that Jesus came to be a human king spread through the crowd like wildfire. The people waving palm branches imagined that Jesus would take charge, put on royal robes, and look the part of their powerful king, perhaps intimidating their oppressors. That was an illusion they dreamed up, not Jesus’ perfect plan.

Jesus did not act like they wanted.
According to the crowd, the longed-for Jewish Deliverer should have confronted and defied Rome. He should have restored power, position, and privilege to Israel. He should have been mighty, not meek; heroic, not humble. Again, these expectations were illusions dreamt up in hearts tired of the hardships of life, hearts longing for days filled with comfort, blessing, and ease. Attractive illusions can quickly morph from rumor into perceived reality.

GOOD FRIDAY QUESTIONS:
– What is my response to Jesus when I don’t get what I want?
– Where am I letting a longing or illusion keep me from seeing & surrendering to Jesus as my King?
– Where am I letting desires for comfort, blessing and ease reject the deeper, more significant work Jesus wants to do in and through my life?

Jesus came to rescue people from a different enemy.
Jesus did come to rescue Israel, along with the entire world. However, it was rebellion, not Rome, that posed (and still poses) humanity’s biggest threat….rebellion against Almighty God. Whenever we go after or hang onto the things of this world at the expense of the things of God, it’s rebellion. Rebellion was running rampant in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.

The Pharisees desperately wanted to hold onto their religious power and prestige. So they rigged a fake trial to gain the death sentence for an innocent man, all the while staying out of the gentile governor’s home so they could stay “ceremonially clean” and go to the Passover party.

The Roman soldiers behaved as ancient bullies; they dressed Jesus in purple robes, crowned Him with thorns, and viciously mocked One who appeared weak to make themselves appear powerful and strong.

Pilate feared losing his political job given by Caesar more than he feared God; after pronouncing Jesus innocent three times, the Roman governor weakly handed Jesus over to the mob to be crucified.

What does rebellion look like today?
Do we compromise in business dealings to hit the target or keep the job?
Group Think tells us, “Everybody’s doing it.”
Do we refuse to help co-workers or even highlight their failures to get the promotion?
Group Think tells us, “It’s the only way to get ahead.”
Do we spread lies through gossip or the rumor mill?
Group Think tells us, “Better to talk about others than have others talk about me.”
Do we fake sickness to get a day off?
Group Think tell us, “I deserve it.”
Do we turn our heads away from the homeless person?
Group Think tells us, “He must deserve it.”

Warning: Rebellion is a Cultural Undercurrent
Though our culture encourages rebellion as a sign of enlightenment, rebellion only leaves us empty.
It only takes cheating on one exam to learn:
rebellion promises to deliver good things, but really deprives us of God’s best.
It takes one affair to learn:
rebellion promises happiness, but provides heartbreak.
It takes a short time of sacrificing family for career to learn:
rebellion promises a place on the mountain peak, but really leaves us in the pit.

GOOD FRIDAY QUESTIONS:
— Where is there rebellion in my life (holding onto things of the world at the expense of things of God?)
— When have I embraced the lies of cultural Group Think to justify a rebellious choice?

Good Friday Brings GOOD NEWS!
We are all rebels at heart. We have all fallen short of the glory of God, but Jesus went to the cross to fix all that! If there’s any rebellion that Jesus has brought to mind today, you can bring it to the cross. When Jesus was nailed to the cross, so was every ounce of human rebellion that ever existed throughout time. All of yours. All of mine. Jesus took up the cross in our place. Lay your rebellion under His nail-pierced feet and take up the forgiveness Jesus offers. Leave your old life and step into your new one. Leave any lingering shadow of rebellion in the past and step more fully into the Light!

The Good Friday sky was dark for a time, but Sunday’s empty-tomb sunrise is coming!