Celebrating Good Friday – The power of the people!
As early as the first century, the Church set aside every Friday as a special day of prayer and fasting
“But they were afraid of the crowd…” Mark 12:12
What was it that brought about Christ’s grisly death on the cross? It was the sin of individuals and a community that combined to crucify Jesus.
The possibility is that just as Jesus lived out His life in the face of these evils, so too do you and I. And the abundant life in us – just as it did in Jesus – will meet its cross. That cross cannot be escaped. If it is escaped then its sequel, the resurrection, is also escaped. I personally have experience that if we refuse to face up to opposition and take the line of least resistance, we will become recessive personalities rather than resurrected ones. Believe me, to be a Christian in the world is no easy task. It is not enough to possess abundant life – that abundant life must be lived out in the presence of those things that oppose us and cause us pain. Selwyn Hughes says, “And when we meet these things, and meet them unflinchingly, then this new life will crimson into a cross.” However, no cross, no resurrection.
One of the embodied evils which put Christ on the cross was the combined rejection by the multitude who cried out, “Crucify Him”.
Yes, Jesus felt the hostility and wrath of the crowds. And today, as long ago, it is becoming increasingly evident that ordinary people wield extraordinary influence and power. Many people are now awakening to the dynamic of ‘people power’. It has always existed, but social media and other means of mobilising people are being skilfully used to hone in on this influence and power. ‘People power’ can and should be a good force to bring about positive change and an improvement in the lives of others. We need to be aware and prayerful because unfortunately, just as in the time of our Lord’s passion, it can also be an extremely dangerous and damaging thing that can easily degenerate into a destructive and dreadful force for evil.
A Prayer: Father God, help us to be aware of the very real possibility of a wrong and dreadful outcome when a crowd comes together. May the story of the Passion and death of our Lord alert us to this very real danger. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Acknowledgement: Everyday with Jesus – Selwyn Hughes
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