Then and Now
In my previous article: “The Power Struggle Between Herod Antipas and John The Baptist”, I spoke about mob mentality and the Deep State of that time, using the mobs to steer a political agenda. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:9, there truly is nothing new under the sun. People often point out the Brownshirts of Nazi Germany as an example of mob mentality, but it has been a part of human nature from the beginning of man. And, it exists today when otherwise good men and women cheer for bad behavior, because they were told to do so, by their favorite personality.
Make no mistake about it… both Jesus and John The Baptist were political, as well as religious figures. Both were labeled ‘radicals’ by the powers that be. Just as in those days, today religion and politics are very much intertwined. And, from the beginning of Earthly time, we have had demonic influence, constantly nipping at our heels. From the moment that Lucifer’s ego outgrew his wings, he has set out to get the human race to destroy themselves by their own hands.
Yes, this means that every human who has ever existed, is subject to a daily barrage of temptation, ego, hubris, and influence… turning good intentions into bad actions. If there is one thing that humans seem to be good at, it’s getting it wrong, stepping in it, and destroying that which we would all work so hard at building, all for their own personal glory-story.
During Lent this year, I have chosen to remain relatively quiet on all that has transpired, in Lee County and Florida politics… and there has been a lot, as you have undoubtedly heard. Next week is a different story, though.
You can paint the similarities to current events, easily enough, without me doing it for you. Like the struggle between Jews and Samaritan’s back then. Samaritans were “half-Jew, half-Gentile”, and stemmed from the Tribe of Aaron, and only believed in the first 5 Books of Moses. Think of it like the struggle between RINOs and America-First in the Republican Party. Or, for that matter, the struggle between the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes, which I compare to the The Me-Firsters, RINOs, and the America-Firsters, respectively. But, for today, I will keep to my Lenten message (sort of).
Today is Good Friday
As I write this, some nearly 2,000 years later… the trial of Jesus Christ has been held, his Scourging is done, He’s donning His Crown of Thorns, and He has marched through the streets on His way to Golgotha. By the time you read this, he is likely laid in the tomb and descending into Hell, the Tabernacle has been split in two, and Judas is off on a shopping spree at Ye Olde Rope Shoppe.
Before we get to the Main Event
There is so much in Jesus’ short ministry on Earth that I could talk about. And, before I get to the main point of the fence-riding supporters and the ‘mob mentality’ of the crowds, these are worth briefly mentioning, for more discussion after Easter:
“Get thee behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:23) -
-Was Jesus saying that Simon Peter was Lucifer?
-No, he was pointing out that every human is constantly subjected to demonic influence, and that Peter, was in fact, being influenced, as was evidenced by his words and deeds. Jesus was basically saying “Hey, Peter, I love you, but knock it off, this isn’t a good look on you, man”.
-More importantly, is to note that Peter did not say “Forget you, man”, and go about the towns, talking bad behind Jesus’ back, and making up lies about Him. For that matter… Judas didn’t even betray Jesus that way. He truly believed he was setting up a meeting which would force Jesus’ hands to start a bloody war, which was Judas’ perceived purpose of Jesus coming to Earth as a man.“The splinter and the log in one’s eye” (Matthew 7:3) -
-Pointing out other’s faults, while ignoring your own.
-More on this in the coming weeks. Trying to remain positive this week.“Wedding at Cana” (John 2:1-11) -
-His providence of that which we run out of, or need.
-Mary’s request and a son’s obedience to His parents.
-Water into wine, later wine into ‘His Blood’.“The Marriage Feast” (Matthew 22:1-10) - So much to unpack here -
-The Marriage between Christ as the Bridegroom, and His Bride, the Church.-Are you awake for the return of the Master? Or, are you sleeping at the wheel?
-Those you least expect, might be sitting beside you at the wedding banquet
(or REC Workshop. Quick… snap a picture).“The Good Samaritan” - (Luke 10:33)
-“A Priest (Pharisee), A Levite (Sadducee), and a Samaritan walk into a bar…”
-aka “The Good RINO”?The Sower, The Pearl, and The Mustard Seed… and literally every parable Jesus gave us can fit into our everyday lives, especially our politics and ideology. Are we applying these to our actions… or just to the actions of others? (speck/log)
But… on to
The Main (Pain) Event
The Trial
Even just surrounding the events of Jesus’ last few days on Earth as a man, there could literally be thousands of volumes written. But, as I said, this is about man’s actions, not Jesus’. This is about how easily we turn a blind eye (with a log in it) to others. And, we do so, because of demonic influence. And, Satan’s Minions influence us because, hey… it works.
The “Not Yet Ready For Primetime Players”:
The Romans
Troops (Legions) and Pontious Pilate. Romans were Gentiles, pagans. They looked down on the Israelites as third-class chattel.
Herod Antipas
The Herods, both father (The Great), and son (Antipas), were very weak leaders. They were chosen by Rome because they were weak, and easily controlled. They cared about their power, not the people. As weak leaders go, they suffered from feelings of inadequecy (deNile Envy?).
They suffered from “This town’s not big enough for the both of us” Syndrome. It is believed that their bloodline probably suffered from genetic disorders, caused by inbreeding. Much like the Rothschilds or European Aristocracy.
Sanhedrin (and Temple Guards)
Pharisees mostly, and to a lesser degree, Sadducees (kind of like Democrats and Republicans, respectively). The outcast Essenes no longer played a part as a ruling class. (Jesus and John The Baptist are believed to have studied under The Essenes).
The Temple Guards, of course, were “just doing their jobs”, and loving every minute of it.
The populace
Followers, sycophants, and Yes-Men of the Sanhedrin, Herod, and/or the Romans.
Followers of Jesus
Or at least people who were very interested in what He had to say. There are 2 different groups here. Those who devoutly followed and believed in Jesus and stuck up for Him, and those who merely said “I liked what he said, but you don’t get charged, if your not guilty”. The fickle, faint-hearted, feckless “friends”, who fended for their own fannies. The second group gets a big “F”.
The man-made Perfect Storm:
The Manipulators:
The crowd's mentality was heavily influenced by the Romans and Herod’s people, but especially the Sanhedrin, who pushed for Jesus' conviction, because he exposed them as fakes, frauds, and phonies. These leaders used their influence and manipulation to sway the crowd to demand Jesus' crucifixion. The Sanhedrin also wielded Rome’s power against the people, as much as their own power, while simultaneously manipulating Pilate to do their dirty work.
The Manipulated:
A few in the crowd were followers of Jesus, family, and friends. As much as they could, the guards were ordered to not admit these people in. And, the ones who did manage to gain entry were outnumbered.
As is human nature, there were those in the crowd who just hailed Jesus’ entering Jerusalem less than a week earlier, who would follow the crowd, so as not to stand out. In other words… to save their own hide and not be castigated by those in power. They knew what they were doing was wrong, but they lacked the spinal and intestinal fortitude to stand up and do what’s right. Afterall, who wants the Sanhedrin mad at you? Your business might be targeted, your taxes unfairly raised, your homes ransacked, false charges brought against you. Even the Fake Town Crier would be against you.
The Manipulated Manipulators:
As is also human nature, there were those who would gladly do the bidding of those who were in power, in order to be in their good graces. Between The Romans, The Kingdom of Judea, The Sanhedrin, and other popular “social media influencers” of the time, there were plenty in the crowd who just wanted to get a selfie with Pilate, Herod, or Caiaphas at the Caesar/Herod Dinner. And, to get their tickets, they yelled out “Give us Barrabas” and “Crucify Him”.
But, they also beat any man or woman who yelled for releasing Jesus. They were told by Caiaphas to shout down anyone sticking up for Jesus. They even reported people who were yelling for Jesus, to the Sanhedrin, so they could deal with them later. They were willing… for the Schilling.
The Manipulation:
Groupthink
Even when it goes against their personal beliefs or judgments, individuals within a group tend to conform to the group's consensus. Some of the crowd at Jesus' trial probably succumbed to groupthink, calling for his crucifixion simply because it was the prevailing sentiment among the group.
Fear of Deviating from the Group
Peer pressure and fear of being social outcasts likely played a significant role in driving some of the crowd's behavior. Some individuals within the crowd may have feared the consequences of standing up for Jesus.
Emotional Contagion
For some people, other’s emotions can quickly become their own, when they’re part of a crowd, leading to a collective emotional state.
Deindividuation
When in large crowds, some individuals may experience a sense of anonymity and reduced personal accountability. This may lead them to behave in ways they might not otherwise. Social norms or personal ethics can be blurred. They can get swept up in the fervor of the moment, and those emotions can grow more rapidly than when they are acting as an individual.
In Conclusion
Whether it’s the crowd at Jesus' trial, the Brownshirts in Nazi Germany, or “the other side” at your local REC meeting, mob mentality can emerge, and individuals can become influenced by group dynamics, manipulation, and emotional arousal.
Imagine how many who cried out for Barrabas’ release had “buyers remorse” when they knocked on The Pearly Gates?!
So, in the course of your everyday lives, don’t be so easily manipulated into doing the dirty work for those with a log in their eye. Regardless of your personal feelings for any individual, always stand up in support of the rule of law, and the following of rules, no matter who the players are. Fight just as hard for your detractor’s right to speak, even though you will likely disagree with it. Only through free and unfettered debate, can truth be determined, and the best ideas rise like cream. At any rate… never be a “clapping seal” for shutting down discussion.