The crowds shout, “Say his name!” They say they want justice, but they really want revenge.
“Say his name!” They shout in unison. ” “Say her name!” They shout again. “No justice, no peace!” The chants for revenge escalate to roars. Marching in the streets leads to torching businesses and churches. And the impassioned cries for justice grow louder. Insisting that they get what they want, they march on and leave mayhem in their tracks. But is it justice, peace, and fair treatment that they want? Or is it something more? Something sinister. I believe it is.
They thirst for the warm blood of revenge. And they rejoice when they get it. They don’t seek justice, nor do they seek peace. It reminds me of a quote from a movie.
“I seek redemption, but revenge will do.”
On the streets of America, the mob seeks revenge, but burning cities and dead police officers will do it instead.
American storefronts and city blocks are ripe with rage and violence. It’s not in every city and town. Not yet. I can attest to that. However, that will likely change. We can hope that the violence will stop, but “hope” is not a strategy. There are instigators and leaders of this growing and unnatural rage. Most angry mobs have leaders. But the leaders usually lurk on the sidelines. In the darkness. They stir the crowds to shout for justice and peace. But is that what they want?
As the world looks on, the suspense is mounting. The United States is teetering and ready to fall. A spinning top eventually slows down and then falls over. It looks like America is being torn apart.
It is.
Say his name.
Jesus
John 1:12
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 20:31
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on his name.
Luke 24:47
And repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Angry crowds didn’t say his name that day.
The shouting crowds remind me of the angry mobs who shouted during the public trial of Jesus. If we read the story from the source–the Bible–we are reminded of a few instigators who enraged the crowds. The instigators had a deadly purpose. They wanted Jesus dead. They would not stop for anything. So they incited the crowd to shout, and shout they did.
“Crucify Him–crucify him!”
The shouts became a roar. The instigators got their wish. They tortured and publicly shamed the Messiah. He was innocent but it didn’t matter. Pilate knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong. He felt powerless before the angry mobs. When leaders lose control of the mobs, anarchy comes forth. We see that on the streets of America.
In Jerusalem, the mob gave Satan what he wanted. After Roman soldiers used a whip to lacerate and tear strips of skin from his back, they led him through the streets. Angry crowds continued to shout and mock him. His blood left a trail on the way to the cross.
Soldiers nailed his hands and feet to the wooden instrument of death. They raised Him up. For six hours he hung there until He died. The warm blood of redemption poured from Jesus’ wounds. At the foot of the cross, women wept for him. At the same time, His enemies mocked him.
On that hill, nearly two thousand years ago, a sharp division of humanity was revealed. The same division remains. The humble will weep and repent. But the proud enemies of God reject God’s Son and nail him to the cross.
Here’s more from God’s Word on this subject.
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible Matthew 27: 23
Pilate saith unto them, As one astonished at their choice: he could not have thought they would have asked the life of so vile a wretch, that had been guilty of such capital crimes, crimes to be abhorred by all men:
what shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? Surely you would not have me put him to death, and that for no other reason but this, because he is called either by himself or others, Christ, or the Messiah, or the king of the Jews!
they all say unto him, let him be crucified; which was a Roman punishment, inflicted on the meanest and worst of men; as wicked servants, thieves, robbers, and cut-throats. And so was not only a torturing and painful death but a very shameful and ignominious one. Yea, an accursed one: in this they all agreed, being instigated to it by the chief priests and elders.
The Crowd Chose Barabbas. They said his name. But it was the wrong name!
Luke 23: 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”
Habakkuk called his name.
In the Old Testament, we can read about the prophet Habakkuk. He saw his streets assaulted by injustice and violence. And he called on the Lord to stop the injustice. He begged the Lord to put a stop to the violence. It was bad, very bad. He knew where to turn for help. So, he went to prayer and pleaded for the Lord to bring justice to the streets, courts, and leaders. But he was stunned at the Lord’s reply.
An Open Conversation
I love this opening passage. The prophet beautifully models the relationship we should have with the Lord. The prophet has come to understand that his thoughts, feelings, and even complaints are welcome in his conversations with God. He brings his thoughts and complaints to him in a respectful way. It’s inspiring to see that, especially knowing that God is not a respecter of persons. You and I can come to the Lord in the same way.
Crying out to God about the “Violence.”
In reading this passage we can almost feel the frustration in the words of Habakkuk. He undoubtedly had spent days that led to years of looking at the violence and injustice around him. He wondered, as many good people often do, “Where is God in this?” It happened in Habakkuk’s days and it happens today. Then he looked around as we often do, wondering how much worse can it get.
This is something that I catch myself spending too much time thinking about. The cruel brutality and utter coldness that humanity shows towards each other are astonishing to me. We have always had violence among us, but it’s still hard to understand what turns people toward that dark ugliness to which many more are turning. I will resist the temptation to add links to show you what I mean. We all know about the shocking news stories that make all reasonable people cry out just as the prophet did.
https://thewritelife.tech/2018/04/25/habakkuk-one-a-stunning-answer-from-god-to-a-prophets-plea-for-help/
Say his name! His name is Jesus.
When the Lord returns, he will bring peace and justice to a rebellious world. The angry mobs will no longer lust for bloody revenge. Instead, they will run in fear of the One who will bring peace to the earth. The Savior left a trail of his own blood on his way to the cross. When he returns, He will do so as a victorious champion of the weak and oppressed. Angry mobs will not rejoice at His return. They will cower and hide.
They will hide because He will come for them. The justice they said they wanted will come. And the peace they said they wouldn’t allow, will finally arrive.
King Jesus will fix the chaos. On the day of judgment, after the angel shouts and the last trumpet sounds, the angry mobs will grow silent.
Oh, sweet peace!
White Stone Watcher
Hello readers,
I have served as a children and youth pastor for over three decades. It was a great honor and pleasure to serve the Lord in that way. It has been my prayer, that many of them will learn of Jesus’ love and decide to commit their lives to following Him.
I wrote the fiction story, ‘White Stone Watcher’ for them and their parents. In the story, we see a young man, and his best friend, Amanda. They face the normal challenges that today’s kids face at school. But with one huge difference.
Their challenge is twelve feet tall to be exact with an enormous set of six wings. Just like the prophet Isaiah saw in the throne room of God. He is a Watcher, an angelic being who is still invisible to Amanda. The messenger from God is about to lead both on a spiritual journey. They find they cannot escape the unseen war that rages all around them. They will become key players that God will use in the battle between the Sons of Darkness and the Children of Light.
I invite you to pray about a youth who might enjoy and benefit from this story. As the world grows darker, our youth must become aware that the Lord is calling them to join the Children of Light in the fight for what is righteous. We are all involved, whether we realize it or not. If they do not go to church, maybe they will read a book about someone just like them facing challenges at school.
God is calling them.
Praying for the youth, and a great awakening.
Pastor Doug
Let me know what you think.