While reading Luke 23 today, I wondered how big of role people pleasing played in Pilate’s decisions surrounding Jesus. At first glance, we suppose he allowed Jesus’ crucifixion at the compulsion of the crowd. But I suspect Pilate was fear more fearful of the Roman leadership above him than the commoners beneath him. Things had gotten dangerously turbulent in Jerusalem and in the words of Obi Wan Kenobi, “There’s always a bigger fish.” Pilate did not want or need his superior, Emperor Tiberius, putting his Roman nose in Pilate’s territory. I suspect Pilate caved to the pressure of the people out of fear of his leadership. A crowd of rambunctious religious fanatics had nothing on an angry emperor.
If we dig in to the details of Pilate’s encounter with Jesus; we can clearly see the affects of people pleasing.
First off, the heading of Luke 23 gets our attention: ‘Jesus’ Trial Before Pilate’. We realize that the trials of life will expose and test our people-pleasing tendencies.
“But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by His teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” (Luke 23:5 NIV)
People pleasing will push us to follow the feelings of others over trusting our own gut. We get ourselves in a heap of trouble when we let other people’s emotions rule our existence.
“”When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent hi to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at the time.” (Luke 23:7 NIV)
People pleasing can get us to deflect our God-given leadership responsibility to others. In doing so, we may let lesser leaders inappropriately weigh in on important decisions.
“That day Herod and Pilate became friends – before this they had been enemies.” (Luke 23:12 NIV)
People pleasing can unintentionally align us with our enemies.
“Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. “But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”” (Luke 23:20 NIV)
People pleasing can cause us to compromise our values for the sake of the crowd or ‘keeping the peace’. Pilate did not want to murder an innocent man, yet he did. We wind up sacrificing our personal peace for the paper-thin promise of peace with others.
“When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility.”
(Matthew 27:24 NIV)
Pilate washed his hands but he was wrong. People pleasing will never exonerate our record. We alone will stand and give account for our actions. People pleasing can send us into a permanent future we never imagined for ourselves. We will look back and wonder why we didn’t take a stand for what was right.
“So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been throw into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.” (Luke 23:24-25 NIV)
People pleasing will let the guilty go free while the innocent pay the ultimate price. People pleasing will further the downstairs agenda in this world. People pleasing leaves a lasting legacy of remorse and regret in our story.
Lord, we read Pilate’s account and our hearts and pricked. People pleasing is a rampant problem for many of us God followers. Whether we are afraid of those above or below, we bow far too quickly the opinions of others. Release us today. Set us free from the ever-changing verdicts of those around us. Let us hold Your opinion most highly. Help us be God-pleasers instead of human-chasers. Help us hear Your voice loud and clear above the din. Have Your way in our story. Amen.