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Continuing our analysis of the penultimate chapter of Luke’s Gospel, this week, please read verses 3-12. If possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 23:18-19 (New Living Translation – NLT)
‘Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.)’
There’s a phrase that I’ve used on occasion to describe how I feel when being betrayed by someone close: “With friends like that, who needs enemies?” I’m sure that I don’t need to explain this one but it is quite staggering to think that it’s possible to behave perfectly reasonably and friendly for most of the time only to seemingly change overnight and display a completely different attitude or disposition. There are some colleagues that I’ve worked with over the years that I would have at one point regarded as friends only to find out later that they were in fact saying all sorts of things behind my back.
Being two-faced is one of the worst possible traits to have. Personally, I find it so much easier to work with people who I know to be obstructive or do not hide their dislike of me than to work with those who are two-faced. It’s almost impossible to retain integrity because other people invariably ‘share’ what has been said in private and very soon, the game is up and I get to know their true feelings. From that point on, there can be no trust or confidence in anything they say or do.
There are people who are regarded as ‘fickle friends’ or ‘fair-weather friends’. These people only seem to want to know you when everything is going well. As soon as circumstances change to their detriment, then they abandon you and move on to other so-called friends. I’m reminded of the parable of the prodigal son who, when he had loads of money, was surrounded by people who were seemingly best of friends. However, when the money ran out, they disappeared as quickly as they had arrived. Some people just can’t be trusted.
Can you imagine what Jesus was thinking as He heard the shouts of the people? Just a few days previously, on a donkey, He had ridden the streets of Jerusalem to cries of ‘Hosanna’ and everyone was welcoming in the King of Majesty and the Anointed One. Those same people are now shouting something very different. Instead of anticipation for all that the Messiah would bring to Israel, they were now seemingly desperate to kill Him and to get rid of all traces of the Son of God. Judas betrayed Jesus and sealed everything in the garden with a kiss. Now the whole of Israel was being represented by this crowd and the roar of disapproval met the ears of Jesus. Betrayal hurts. The people who were God’s chosen were choosing to reject His Son and were screaming for His death. They had wanted a political Messiah, someone who would deliver them from the rule of Rome. Jesus was clothed in humility and was able to deliver them from the rule of Satan and they chose to release a murderer.
Whenever I think of these moments, I’m overwhelmed at the grace and love on display. “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lays down his life for his friends.” Jesus was giving His life not just for good friends, but for fickle ones. For two-faced ones, for ones who had betrayed Him. He forgave them and died for their salvation. Such love. We have been given an awesome challenge – to reflect the love of Jesus. Take a moment to think about all of your own ‘fair-weather friends’ and, just like Jesus, make a conscious decision to love them despite their betrayals. Jesus said ‘love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you’. What a challenge!
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