Letters From Grandpa #535

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 535

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will be about peer pressure. Wise King Solomon warned: “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong” (Exodus 23:2). Sadly, many do things in a riot that they later regret. Sometimes riots are deliberately started by evil people who consider the common people like us as “useful idiots”. Sometimes a riot can take on a life of its own like a California fire before a Santa Ana wind. One example of wicked people starting a riot happened in Ephesus during the ministry of the Apostle Paul. The story is found in Acts 19:23-41.

The Scriptures record that Paul had been so successful in evangelizing Ephesus that within only two years all the Jews and Greeks in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord (Acts 19:10). As a result “A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (Acts 19:19-20) One way, as you know, to understand history is to “follow the money.”

This brings us to Demetrius. He was the wicked man who started the riot. He was a silver smith who sold idols of the goddess Artemis. The thought of losing money prompted him to call together his fellow craftsmen. He told them: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” (Acts 19:25-27)

“When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ Soon the whole city was in an uproar.” Then the mob grabbed two of Paul’s traveling companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, and rushed as one man to the theater and for the next two hours shouted “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.”

Luke records a key phrase so characteristic of riots: “MOST OF THE PEOPLE DID NOT EVEN KNOW WHY THEY WERE THERE.” (Acts 19:32)

As you know, Jesus was crucified because of a manufactured riot! When Jesus was on trial before Pilate Mark informs us: “Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.” (Mark 15:6-11)

Please keep your focus on Pilate. He had a simple choice to make. Would he do what was right, or would he follow the crowd in doing wrong? This is the same choice that we must make on a daily basis!

Here was the evidence that Pilate had to consider? Barabbas was a convicted criminal already in prison for committing murder in a riot (Mark 15:7). John confirmed: “Now Barnabas had taken part in a rebellion.” (John 18:40) The name “Barabbas” literally means “Son of the Father”. (Bar = son and Abba = father) He was a notorious prisoner already convicted of his crimes (Matthew 27:16).

Jesus, by contrast, had already been on trial before both Pilate and Herod and was judged to be innocent! “Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.” (Luke 23:13-15)

Further. Matthew explained: “While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.” (Matthew 27:19-20)

Again! The choice was clear! Would Pilate chose to do what was right, or would he follow the crowd in doing wrong?

Sadly, Pilate caved in to peer pressure: “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!” All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:24-26)

The bad example of Pilate is a clear warning for everyone who chooses to follow the crowd in doing wrong! Please don’t be like Pilate! Please don’t deny Jesus to please the crowd! Jesus warned: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33) Please don’t ever be ashamed of Jesus!

Just before Paul was beheaded for his faith he wrote to Timothy: “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” (2 Timothy 1:8) Obviously it is better to be like Paul than to be like Pilate!

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce