Luke 23:21

²¹ But they shouted, saying,

“Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Who were these people that Luke was addressing them as ‘they shouted’? In verse 13 of Luke chapter 23, it says that there were three kinds of people shouting for the Lord to be crucified. One was the chief priests, then the rulers and the rest of them were the people of all kinds.

The chief priests were the leading priests who were members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, and the high priest was one of the chief priests. During the days of Jesus Christ, the chief priests had all the authority and were seen as playing a critical role in religious life of the Jewish people and the Sanhedrin. They knew the law of Moses in and out and practiced strictly.

These chief priests were the first ones to shout for our Lord Jesus Christ to be crucified. For they could not see who Jesus was. Because the law blinded them. Ever since Lord Jesus Christ began His earthly ministry, there was opposition. The opposition began with Satan himself at the helm. Every step of the way Jesus was faced with persecution.

Did you know that in the Old Testament you don’t read much about people tormented with evil spirits? Did you know why? Because everyone who practiced the law were blinded in the flesh. The flesh does not have the spiritual eyes. Only the Spirit has the eyes through which one can see. I am not talking about the eyes that we see. The more Jesus preached the Word, the more Satan had his effect on the Jewish people. This is the reason, chief priests were not affected by the teachings, miracles and the healings that Jesus performed.

Right from the start of Jesus’ ministry, the Satan was scheming to topple the Lord’s purpose. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost. It is not because of the chief priests cry that our Lord was crucified but because of the will of Father that His Son should pay the ransom and die on the cross.

In Jesus precious name! Amen.

Maranatha!