Over the next number of weeks, we will spend some time looking at the "Faces Surrounding Calvary". There are many individuals whose actions (or lack of), attitudes, and words are worthy of our attention. We will learn more about the people of that day, about the crucifying of our Lord, and Lord willing, more about ourselves. As we go through this series of articles, place yourself in a front row seat to the events we discuss, for in so doing, you will receive the greatest benefit.

The people of Jerusalem are an interesting group. They had seen Jesus on several occasions, and had come to believe that He was from God. No doubt, they believed that He was the coming Messiah, for as He entered the city, the people crowded the streets chanting, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some people carpeted the road beneath the donkey Jesus road upon with their cloaks, others brought palm branches. He was seen as a King, and thus treated as a King.

They had been awaiting the time that God would send His deliverer. They had been subject to evil authorities for too long, and now, Jesus of Nazareth would arm the people of God to fight, and free them from all oppression. Unfortunately, this is what most of the people thought. They believed Jesus came to fight a physical war, to sit on a physical throne, and to reign as a physical King.

Jesus taught otherwise. He taught of a heavenly kingdom. He taught of a home beyond the skies, where "...neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal..." Some of the people may have understood, but if there were any, they were few. For even His own disciples struggled with the idea of a spiritual kingdom. They struggled with the idea of Him waging spiritual warfare. They couldn't comprehend the victory over and freedom from oppression being found in humility, gentleness, self sacrifice, and complete surrender.

We don't hear anything about the crowds until the day Jesus is crucified. As far as we know, they still supported Jesus up until that morning. But that Friday, during the morning hours the multitudes were swayed. They chief priests and scribes persuaded the people that they ought to ask for Barabbas to be released, and for Jesus to be crucified. Oddly, they agreed. They called forth to Pilate, "Let Him be crucified!"

Pilate spoke back, "But He is your King!" "We have no king, but Caesar," came the reply. Days before, perhaps even hours, these individuals backed Jesus fully. He was a man of God in their eyes. The Redeemer. Now, a mere criminal. What happened?

We see here how easily man can be swayed. We see here the power of influential people, the power of the highly esteemed. The Jerusalem crowd supported the cause of Christ. They believed He was their Messiah, but in what might have been a matter of minutes, the Jewish leaders had convinced the people that He was a fraud.

We're not very different from these people in Jerusalem. We too are in search of one who will alleviate us of the chains that bind. But, if we are not careful, we can fall to the same fate as they. Those who claim to be religious leaders, we must beware of! The Pharisees lad an agenda of their own, and thus they lead the people in that direction. They were able to sway the people from one side of an issue to the other with little trouble. Never should our trust be so wrapped in men that we would deny that which is from God.

The Jerusalem crowd serves as a warning for us. If they had only trusted the "Word", they would not have turned from it. But rather, their trust went to the scribes and Pharisees, to the hypocrites! Well did Jesus say, "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a ditch."