People all over the world revere democracy.
They die for it. The kill for it. They hold it up as the absolute pinnacle of political order.
But democracy killed Jesus.
“Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.’ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’ Pilate said to them, ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ All of them said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ Then he asked, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’ So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ Then the people as a whole answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:15-26)
Democracy in action. The will of the majority. Collective consent.
Ironically, the majority chose to pursue a political path – the way of violence and power – an earthly kingdom. Their insistence on releasing Barabbas instead of Jesus symbolizes their choice.
Politicians and citizens alike preach the virtue of democracy. Question this political dogma and you will find yourself labeled a heretic. And yet nobody can tell you why exactly democracy is so great. It’s just a given. It’s settled doctrine.
But why should the will of the crowd always triumph? How does the mere existence of a majority somehow create moral authority?
In truth it doesn’t.
There is nothing sacred about the democratic process. At its core, it is nothing more than institutionalized mob rule.
Democracy can legitimately serve to facilitate decision-making in a voluntary society. But when placed in the context of a nation-state, it becomes nothing more than an organized mechanism for one group to violently impose its will on another.
2 Corinthians 10:4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to
the pulling down of strong holds;)
5Casting
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ; 6And
having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is
fulfilled.
The Barabbas Deception: Which Jesus Would You Choose?
A democratic process
resulted in the greatest miscarriage of justice in human history.
Jerry Robinson - True Riches Academy
On the day Christ was condemned to death, the Jews were presented with the choice of two different men.
One would receive clemency and be set free. The other would die a gruesome death.
One was a silent lamb that was led to the slaughter.
The other was a violent rebellious zealot who was actively using the sword to “take Israel back for God” from the defiling hands of the pagan Roman infidels.
The Pharisees, who sat in Moses’ seat, were supposed to herald the coming of Messiah. Instead, they traded one Jesus for another when given the opportunity.
The story of a little known man named “Jesus Barabbas” is remarkable as it emerges from the Biblical texts. The story of Barabbas appears in all four gospels.
Read about Barabbas in the Bible:
To the Pharisees, Jesus became a useful tool in breaking one of their nation’s “patriots” out of jail: Barabbas.
As the crowds stood before Pontius Pilate, they were asked whether they wanted Jesus of Nazareth released or Barabbas released. The maddened crowds, encouraged by the corrupt religious leaders, yelled: “Give us Barabbas!” (John 18:40)
The very name “Barabbas” is intriguing as it literally means “son of the father.”
(Bar= “son of” Abbas= “father”).
Herein lies the irony. As Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Israel’s true Messiah and the “Lamb of God,” stood before His own people at Passover, they demanded his death. They preferred another man, known as “son of the father.” Interestingly, some early translations of the Gospels (in particular, the Aramaic and the Jerusalem Syriac translations) list Barabbas’ first name as “Jesus.”
According to the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia:
“Abba” is used in the name “Barabbas” as a common noun, whereas “Abba” is found as a prae-nomen as early as tannaitic times (Yeb 15a). If “Abba” were merely a title of Barabbas’ father, his name could not have been simply “Son of Abba.” In fact, Origen reports that in several manuscripts of the Gospels he had seen the name given as “Jesus Barabbas” or “Jesus, son of Abba.” Accordingly, the first name was afterward omitted from the manuscripts of the gospels when the name of Jesus had become sacred. (The Jewish Enc. 2:513)
This name “Jesus Barabbas” still remains in some modern translations, including the NIV and the NET Bible.
Quick Facts about Jesus Barabbas
– Barabbas is mentioned in all four gospels.
– He was a Jewish rebel, known as a Zealot, and a “notable prisoner,” imprisoned for participating in a murderous insurrection against the Roman Empire.
– Pontius Pilate freed Barabbas from prison, as was his “custom at passover,” after the Jewish crowd demanded his release.
– Barrabbas’ first name was Jesus, which adds an interesting dimension to the Biblical account of Pilate’s offer to release one man at passover.
Jesus Barabbas vs Jesus Christ
1) Jesus, Son of the Father (“Christ”)
OR
2) Jesus, son of the father (“Barabbas”)
The Pharisees had the written history, the psalms, the proverbs, and the prophets. According to Jesus, these religious rulers sat in the “seat of Moses.” (See Matthew 23:2)
And yet, when given the choice, they chose wrong.
But the deception lies in the fact that they did indeed choose a “Jesus.”
They just chose the wrong one!
What about you?
Imagine yourself in the crowd that day as these two men were presented for a democratic vote.
One would receive clemency and be set free. The other would die a gruesome death.
Would you make the right choice? What would have enabled you to go against the mob mentality, especially when it was endorsed and sanctioned by the most important religious leaders?
An interesting thought experiment and meditative food for those so inclined.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
A Biblical View of Elections and Democracy
What is election according to the Bible? And how does it compare to man's view of elections?
In this unique and brief Biblical commentary, teacher/researcher Jerry Robinson exposes the confusion plaguing the American church today. Saints, this video was posted after the 2020 election.
Psalm 12:8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Democracy is against God
Democracy literally means, rule by people. Scriptures supports several forms of governments but democracy is not one of them. Whenever democracy was referred, it was always used to rebel against God’s decisions. In this post, we will explore what the Scriptures had to say about democracy.
Felix Immanuel - Trumpet Call
Theocracy and Monarchy
Before we go in depth into democracy and how it is against God, we must first understand the types of governments approved by God in Scriptures.
and said to him [Samuel], “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
1 Sam 8:5-7
As we can see from the above passage, the only form of government intended by God is theocracy. The next government approved of God after the people rejected God being their king is monarchy where God chose Saul, David and Solomon. When Solomon rejected God, He split the kingdom but after the exile of both kingdoms, there were no new kingdoms or form of governments approved of God. God Himself came in Flesh to be the King and bring His Kingdom into this world.
Return to Egypt
And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”
Num 14:2-4
The first time a democracy style selection of a leader ‘by the people’ occurs during the Exodus and it’s purpose was to rebel against God’s decision and turn back to Egypt. The point that I am trying to make here is, if Moses was to be elected by the children of Israel, he may have lost the election with a terrible defeat.
Korah’s Rebellion
Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [men;] and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “[You] [take] too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation [is] holy, every one of them, and the LORD [is] among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”
Num 16:1-3
In the above passage, we can see the political party of Korah who wants to change the management by Moses during Exodus. Korah’s party consists of representatives of the congregation and they were men of renown. These people want the people or ‘the assembly of the LORD’ given more power than Moses have. In other words, the people or the ‘assembly of the LORD’ must have authority, not Moses and Aaron. If there was an election, will Moses party win when the representatives of the congregation were actually with Korah? No, Korah will win the election and that’s the point.
Jesus lost but murderer wins
The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” [They] all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” … When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather [that] a tumult was rising, he took water and washed [his] hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see [to it.]” And all the people answered and said, “His blood [be] on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered [Him] to be crucified.
Matt 27:21-22,24-26
Jesus could have been saved by the power of the people. But it was democratically decided that Jesus was not fit to live by the people who opted a murderer to be released.
Golden Calf
Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for [as for] this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
Exod 32:1
It was decided by the people, of the people and for the people that Israelites want to make a new god of gold who can lead them into the promised land.
Conclusion
We had discussed several events in Scriptures where the decision taken by the people was always against God.
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every intent of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.
Gen 6:5
As we read in Genesis, the intent and thoughts
of most men are continually evil. It is true that we shouldn’t be like most
men but Noah, but if the decision making authority was given to most men who
think evil, what will be the outcome? Hence, the only government that God
always intended
is theocracy (1 Sam 8:7-8). Lord, let your Kingdom
come (Matt 6:10)
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.