What Jesus Did! 'Their Voices Prevailed' — Luke 23:18-25

Monday, December 18, 2023

Verse of the Day: The Stream Continues

Learn more about Verse of the Day and the future of our daily ministry.

 More Info
[After Pilate pronounced Jesus innocent,] 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.) Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

For the third time he demanded, "Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him."

But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

— Luke 23:18-25 NLT

Key Thought

Pilate didn't have the fortitude to buck the crowd's will. Instead, he read the poll numbers and followed the will of the crowd rather than doing the right thing. So Pilate "turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished." They had insisted that a murderer be released and Jesus be crucified. As insane as this insistence seems, that type of thing is what often happens when a crowd determines the agenda. All throughout Jesus' ministry, the crowd had sought to possess him and make him into what they wanted him to be. Jesus didn't let them. Now the crowd called for his death because they couldn't make Jesus do their bidding and because the religious leaders had incited the crowd against Jesus. The crowd got its wish with Pilate. Will the crowd get its wish with us and with our lives? Or will we choose Jesus and the way of the Lord? Let's remember that the way of Christ is quite often unacceptable to the crowd. If we ever doubt this truth, all we have to do is to be reminded of the cross and the Savior.

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, help me never base my life on the will of the crowd, but to have the courage to live the way of the Lord. In his name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

Carrying My Cross
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Friend, The verses below give you some of the details about the horrendous way I was treated during My journey to Golgotha. You see hatred in..."
Faithful Friends?
Article by Phil Ware
Can I find a friend that is truly faithful? Friends are fickle and Jesus' friends were truly fickle and faithfless, but Jesus is a faithful friend.
A Cry from the Hills of Judea
Article by Bill Sherrill
What could change everything? Bill Sherrill writes about God's clearest message through Jesus on the Cross and through the Gospel of John.

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 23:18-25 NLT — "Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, December 18, 2023

Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Psalms 23:4
"Behold, how independent of outward circumstances the Holy Ghost can make the Christian! What a bright light may shine within us when it is all dark..."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by C. S. Lewis:
"The Christian has a great advantage over other men, not by being less fallen than they, nor less doomed to live in a fallen world, but by knowing that he is a....."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Suffering in This World Connects Us to Jesus'
"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Proverbs 3:11-12
"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!