Jordan - Luke 23

We the people...

I just read a story today about a researcher who came across and early copy of the constitution in the archives in Philadelphia.  She found it by following a scribbled "We the people" on one of James Wilson's other writings.  It was a coincidence that I came across that article today while reading Luke 23 because I decided to intentionally watch how Luke portrayed "the people" in the gospel.  When studying Mark with Pastor Holm and Pastor Schulhaus we were commenting on how "the people" go from praising Jesus in the entrance to Jerusalem and then quickly turn into "the people" or "the crowd" that cry to Pilate to "Crucify Him."

In almost all Passion readings/plays, the same people who are the crowd in Jerusalem and the crowd that pressures Pilate.  It creates an eerie darkness where the mob rules despite a corrupt and mocking governor (Pilate) oddly defending Jesus.  The mob gets this strange distinction despite the fact that throughout the rest of the gospel, the majority of crowds are doing everything possible to get close to Jesus and listen to him preach.

Thanks to my trusty Lutheran Study Bible, I didn't have to seek out an answer too hard.  In verse 23:13 the comment says: "the people: This may refer to a crowd, but not to all the Jews or all the people in Jerusalem."  I agree, this can't be the same group of people, but I have to say that its almost a little disappointing that there isn't this cloudy change of heart in crowds of Jerusalem.

Another thing I notice about this chapter is how quickly Luke turns from a collection of bits and pieces to captivating witness.  Its obvious that this is where the details and embellishments of oral history are coming through.