Squeaky Wheel

Sometimes, because of our position or the role we play, we find ourselves in an awkward spot.

Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him." Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!" (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. - Luke 23:13-25

Pilate could find no reason to put Jesus to death.

But because the crowd was so riled up, he gave in and had Jesus crucified.

It reminds me of lynchings.  Once the crowd gets it in their heads that someone is the problem, all rule of law is thrown out.

You can label it whatever you want, for it manifests itself in many situations.  Racism, Antisemitism, anti-gay, they all have one thing in common.  

The crowd attaches guilt to a target and goes after it.

In Pilate's case, the target was Jesus, but in our day it is whoever we choose to blame for the situation we want "fixed".

Once the crowd is riled up, it loses all sense of reason, and it does things it didn't plan to do.

The people get caught up in the moment and the frenzy takes over.

And what is even scarier, the authority will go along with it for fear of the crowd.

Those who shout the loudest, get all the attention, and they move those in authority to support their cause.

We are all guilty of being influenced by the squeaky wheel.  It has power over us, power we don't even realize.

Jesus even talked about it in the story of the neighbor who wanted bread at midnight and the widow who pleaded her case over and over to the magistrate.

Those who are persistent can get mountains to move.

So, maybe we need to be a little squeaky ourselves.

Maybe we should make some noise for what is right.

More to come...