“WHEN THE PEOPLE PROTEST”
“As Pontius Pilate addressed the crowd saying… “It’s clear that he’s done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death. I’m going to warn him to watch his step and let him go.” At that, the crowd went wild: “Kill him! Give us Barabbas!” (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder.) Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again. But they kept shouting back, “Crucify! Crucify him!”He tried a third time. “But for what crime? I’ve found nothing in him deserving death. I’m going to warn him to watch his step and let him go.” But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted.”
– Luke 23:16-25
I watch the TV news from time to time. I google video reports and I listen to people talk to each other on the radio. People are protesting all over the place as colleges and universities are under the proverbial social microscope as classes and student lives have been disrupted causing some institutions to cancel graduation! Protests erupt from passionate causes. I’ve been part of a few!
Back in 1979 the seminary I attended was going to put a fresh facelift on the quadrangle in order to build some additional married student housing. Our protest was legitimate… or so we thought.
On the day of the meeting of the Board of Regents a half-dozen students walked in unannounced saying that the trees on the quadrangle should not be cut down in order to make room for the married student apartments.
But this was not an environmental protest as the plans included cutting down trees that made up holes number seven, eleven and seventeen of the student-initiated frisbee golf course and it seemed a legitimate protest at the time. But lives were not being placed at risk and the board voted our protest out of order as student housing was of far greater concern than students recreational habits. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
I’m old enough to recall the 1968 protests at the Democratic Convention in Chicago and other vocal uprisings over the Vietnam War and even in China where a famous photo exists of one student standing in the middle of the road facing down a tank.
Whoah.
And don’t forget there was a ‘tea party’ in Boston protesting the high taxes being levied by King George back in the 1700’s.
The Bible has its share of protest stories, too. Like that time when Moses went up on the mountain to have a face-to-face visit with God but the people had grumbled at their desert wandering building a golden calf to worship.
And there was that time when the Ark of the Covenant had been stolen by the Philistines and through the acts of God made known… they protested demanding the ark be sent back where it came from.
Jesus was a protester. His was of the non-violent type as he spoke words of truth which brought into question the actions of those who were unfaithful and corrupt… both religious leaders and those in the power of government. But, the people shouted louder and protested the governor’s decision to let Jesus go… as he gave in to the urgings of the people and Jesus was taken outside the city and murdered… hung on a cross to die between two thieves of which one protested his own dying asking Jesus to bring the execution to an end… but Jesus didn’t and was put to death for something he didn’t do…and then the leaders of the Temple protested the governor for putting a sign above Jesus’ head… saying he was king… God’s saving king… something the world now knows he remains… so pray with me for those who protest… and for a truth that sets us free!
The Rev. Dr. Brian K. Gigee is a long-time resident of Pearland, having pastored four churches over the last four decades in Texas and Louisiana. Read more following Brian’s blog ‘murmurings’ at https://briangigee.wordpress.com/. Send comments and/or questions to godworks247365@gmail.com.
