The crucifixion of Jesus is an ugly scene.  It’s often sanitized in our minds and in pictures or movies (except for The Passion of the Christ).  But, nothing about it was pretty or glamorous.  Near the beginning of the chapter, speaking of Pilate, these words are written:  “wanting to satisfy the crowd…”.  Nothing good ever comes after those words, does it?

We’d all like to think that we’re our own person.  That we only do the things we do because WE want to do them.  However, a simple look through our closets, garages, and neighborhoods tells us otherwise.  Unfortunately, unlike in these simple, seemingly harmless examples, there are more malignant ways that satisfying the crowd effects me.

It’s easier to remain silent than speak out.  It’s easier to watch than to act.  It’s easier to mourn injustice than do something about it.  It’s easier to settle for the status quo than pursue a God-sized dream.  It’s easy to go along than make waves.  It’s easier to sell out than stick it out. At least we think it is.

I don’t want to be that person.  I want to dream bigger, live in freedom, and pursue what is good and right with abandon.  I want to live my life for an audience of 1.

The Bible tells us that in the moment that Jesus died – the curtain in the temple was ripped in two, from top to bottom.  Don’t miss the symbolism there.  Behind the curtain was a place only certain priests could go.  Behind the curtain was understood to be the physical place where God lived and dwelt.  Ordinary people were not permitted, they didn’t have access. There was no audience of 1.

The ripping of the curtain was God sending a message to all of humanity that what Jesus had just done changed the game. Maybe there’s a direct connection in our lives between these two thoughts.   Often, satisfying the crowd serves as the most significant curtain between me and the Lover of my soul.  Thank you Jesus for tearing it down and allowing me the freedom to live in you!