Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man; no, neither did Herod; and nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.”
But they shouted, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
Then he said to them, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him.”
But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.
So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.
Selected statements from the passage found in Luke 23: 13-24
This is the very definition of mob rule. Earlier in the week Jesus had entered the city with much fanfare. The people had welcomed Him as a king. However the chief priests and rulers had for some time looked for the opportunity to destroy Him. Mark’s account says the chief priests stirred up the crowd. By week’s end, it was mob rule. Pilate, wishing to gratify the crowd, delivered Jesus to be crucified.
Even the Jews’ own law stated one should not follow a multitude to do evil. (Exodus 23:2)
But this is mob rule. The majority rules. When the mob takes over, reason, rule, and laws are disregarded.
We should be very thankful we live in a country with laws to protect us as individual citizens. These very laws are established to protect the citizenry from mob rule.
On occasion, I hear our country referred to as a democracy. I am sure it is by well-meaning people. But the truth of the matter is we are not a democracy. The definition of a democracy is a government ruled according to the will of the majority. The majority rules. In some cases, that could turn out to be mob rule.
In a democratic form of government, if the majority of people decide to take something that belongs to the individual, then so be it. In a true democracy, the majority rules in all cases, regardless of any consequences for individuals or for those who are not in the majority on an issue.
The fact is, the U. S. is not a democracy. We are a republic. There is a big difference.
A republic is a representative form of government. This is a government ruled by a constitution or set of laws that protect the individual. In a republic, power is limited in order to protect the individual from the will of the majority.
Yes, there is democracy involved in the process of making those laws. But the point is that there is a process. It should never be a mob rule mentality.
We are a republic. We state that every time we recite the pledge.
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands…”
When our nation was formed, Ben Franklin was asked if it was a republic or a monarchy. He replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
Centuries before Christ was crucified, Plato wrote, “Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequal alike.” That doesn’t sound appealing to me.
I am thankful I live in a republic. I am thankful there are laws to protect the individual. For the sake of my grandchildren, I pray that we can keep our republic.
But I am most thankful there was a King 2000 years ago that was willing to subject Himself to the mob-rule mentality. He went to the cross for me. Thank You, Lord.