“What is truth?”

John 18:38

There seems to be an inherent power, a drawing power, that can be observed in following the crowd. What is it about the crowd that causes us to change courses? What is it about the crowd that would compel us to completely switch from a previously held conviction to something diametrically opposite? How is it that we are so easily swayed from what was once a dogmatic belief to a teaching that is radically different from the belief once held?

I realize there are many answers to those probing questions, but I would like to suggest one: the power of the crowd. We might think of it as the power of the majority; the power of being swayed by the view of the many rather than holding true to the truth embraced by the minority.

As we approach the celebration of Easter, I would like to look at a few individuals in the Biblical narrative that will help us determine where we fit in with the crowd. There are those in the story of the events of Passion Week that are sometimes overlooked, or at least passed over with little attention, because of the focus on Jesus Himself. And, granted, He certainly deserves all the attention. But how does what happened to Him affect the other individuals in the story?

In this blog, we will focus on one of those individuals: Pilate. By looking at him, we will see clearly the power of the crowd. We will see how this man – a man of authority, a man of power, a man who, by his own assertion, held Jesus’ life in his hands – was swayed by the power of the crowd. And, we will learn how we, too, might be easily swayed to go in a different direction – the way of the crowd.

The story is familiar – so familiar, in fact, that we pass over it with little to no thought at all. Jesus has been betrayed by Judas Iscariot. He has been taken before Annas, who in turn had Jesus taken before Caiaphas, the high priest. He then faced the Sanhedrin, which had been illegally gathered in the darkness of night. They then sent Him to stand before Pontius Pilate, who then sent Jesus to Herod, who finally sent Him back to Pilate.

As Jesus stands before Pilate for the second time, Pilate asks the probing question posted above: “What is truth?” As the dialogue goes back and forth between Pilate and Jesus, and then between Pilate and the crowd, it is obvious that he wants nothing to do with Jesus’ death. He pleads with the crowd to release Jesus, stating that he finds no grounds for the death penalty.

It is here that the power of the crowd becomes glaringly evident. He has said to Jesus, “Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You, and the authority to crucify You?” Power! Authority! Jesus’ life was in his hands! But not really. Jesus said to Pilate, “You have no authority over Me at all.” In other words, Jesus was asserting that everything was going as planned. Pilate only thought he wielded authority, but there was One who had orchestrated this entire event.

However, Pilate really did think that he was in control. He really thought the authority was his to make the ultimate decision which would result in Jesus being set free, or being crucified. So, what was the determining factor, at least from a human perspective. We know that from the divine perspective there was a plan being carried out that had been decreed from eternity past. But in the arena of human history, in the crisis of the moment, who was in control. Well, Pilate. At least in his mind.

But in reality he wasn’t. No, he gave control over to the crowd when he turned Jesus over to be crucified. The power of the many took precedence over the truth. Remember that question Pilate posed? “What is truth?” But before Jesus could give answer, Pilate turned and walked away. He knew the truth. He knew Jesus had done nothing deserving of death. He knew Jesus deserved to walk out a free man. But he could not make himself stand for truth in the face of the crowd.

We might think it was something we would never do! We might think, “I would never turn my back on Jesus. I would never turn my back on truth. I will always stand for what it right.” But will I? We live in a time of spiritual darkness. We live in the midst of an evil which is taking over, a darkness that is putting a shadow over the truth. We are seeing long-held, traditional, Biblical values being tossed to the side for the sake of progression. We are witnessing an antagonism against Biblical truth for the sake of inclusion. We are living in a time in which it could very well become illegal to preach the truth of God’s Word.

The power of the crowd is closing in quickly. Where will we stand when it comes down to being true to God’s Word, or allowing that Word to be overturned because of the powerful influence of the many. Pilate teaches us an invaluable lesson: we may know the truth, and still be persuaded by the crowd to forsake the truth for the demand for tolerance. Let’s learn from Pilate’s decision, and not make the same mistake.