The Behavior of the Crowd During Holy Week

Today begins Holy Week, which culminates in the celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday.  Holy Week takes up a significant portion of all four canonized gospels.  This is particularly true of the Gospel of Mark, which has been described as the period of Holy Week with an extended introduction.

There are a number of characters that play a role during Holy Week.  There are the obvious major characters of Jesus, the disciples, Pilate, the Roman military, and the Jewish religious establishment.  But one of the most interesting characters in the story is what can be called the "crowd." The crowd that welcomes Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowd that is given the choice between executing Jesus and Barabbas, and the crowd that witnesses the crucifixion.

It is very likely that the "crowd" in all three of these scenes is composed of many of the same persons.  The population of Jerusalem swelled during Passover, but the city was still small by modern standards, both in terms of physical size of the city itself, and the size of the population.

The "crowd" has a personality, just like the other characters in the story.  Most importantly, the crowd is easily swayed by popular opinion and the powers that be.  The crowd welcomed Jesus into the city, probably because of the rumors that they had heard that Jesus was the Messiah, which led them to perceive him as someone who would initiate a military coup.  That same crowd gathers to watch Jesus overturn the tables of the money changes.  The crowd then follows along as the trial and crucifixion of Jesus are brought about by the Roman government and Jewish religious establishment.

There are two lessons that we learn from this character in the story.  The first is the danger of automatically conforming to the behavior of the majority.  This story reveals that the crowd lacks wisdom, discernment, and courage.  Second, as those who are called to live according to the example of Christ, we must not be swayed by what the "crowd" thinks of us.  If we are faithful to God's call, we may be called to act in a way that is contrary to the crowd.  We must accept the fact that the crowd will not like us very much.  All that matters is following God's will.

The Reward for Belief

The gospel reading in this week's lectionary contains the most well known biblical verse in Protestant Christianity: John 3.16.  This provides an opportunity to carefully examine the way that this text is presently read, and whether this reading is correct.

As interpreted in contemporary Protestant Christianity, the text means that if we think that a set of abstract principles about Jesus are true, we will not be punished in the afterlife, but will instead go to heaven.

This reading of John 3.16 can be challenged by considering the significance of three words in the verse: "believe", "everlasting life," and "world." Let's start with "believe." In its Greek context, the word does not mean that we think that a set of principles is true.  Instead, the word is indicative of following and trusting.  "Believing" in Christ means that we will recognize him as Lord and live our lives according to his example, living a life of sacrifice, mercy, and compassion.

The word "everlasting life" does not refer to something that is found in the future, but something that is already present.  The word has strong correlations to the Jewish notion of time as divided between two ages; the present age of darkness, and the age to come, when the Reign of God would be revealed. 

The word "world," from the Greek kosmos, is best translated as "domination system." It does not refer to the planet, or even the people who inhabit the planet, but the system by which human culture operates, exemplified in Jesus' time by Rome.  Human culture is based upon violence, destruction, and hatred.

When we put these understandings of "believe," "eternal life," and "world" together, we arrive at a very different reading of John 3.16.  God loves the world, despite the world's darkness.  And into the darkness of the world, God sent His Son, who exemplified sacrificial love for the world, despite its darkness.  And if we recognize Jesus as Lord and follow in his steps, living lives of sacrificial love for the world despite its darkness, we will experience God's age right here and now.  We will recognize that God's presence is already here, in us and in the world.  And in each other.  And we will recognize that if we live as God's people, we will remain in God's presence and live in God's reign now and forever.