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It seems we have a plethora of protests against one person or another for one reason or another. Students, especially, seem to quick to voice outrage in mass, and, what’s sadder, university presidents seem to give into them.

But in rereading events of Passion Week, I learn that such behavior isn’t new. Manipulated crowds make demands of the authority figure who gives in.

¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. ¹² And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” ¹³ And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” ¹⁴ And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” ¹⁵ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Mark 15.11 – 15, ESV)

Jesus’ crucifixion, humanly speaking, came from the same kinds of forces at play in our society today.

You shall not follow a crowd to do evil. (Exodus 23.2, ESV)