When Group Think Goes Wrong

Group think may mean you eat that piece of chocolate cheesecake that you shouldn't have! :) 

Scripture:

Mark 15:1   As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.

Observation:

Jesus had been tried throughout the night be the religious leaders. Now, they were rushing to take him to the Roman court, for they usually met in the early morning hours, sometimes before dawn. 

The religious leaders had tried Jesus for blasphemy, and he had revealed that he was the Son of God. This declaration would never work in the secular court. They held a “consultation,” between the chief priests, the elders, scribes and the whole council. Jealousy consumed this group and they were determined to get rid of Jesus. The group had their own foregone conclusions and when they gathered, it was not for critical discussion, but simply for reinforcement of their own ideas. They knew that their charge of “blasphemy” would not work in the Roman court and they needed to recast their indictment. They did not want a retrial because they may have brought the wrong charge before the government. Getting their heads together they prepared the argument for Pilate. 

Twisting Jesus’ words, they could make a case for treason. If he said he was the Son of God, you could stretch that to mean that he was declaring himself to be the ruler over the Israelites. This would mean that he was wanting to be their “king” and that would be a crime worthy of death for it was treason within the eyes of the Roman government! In this way they could get the Roman official to do their dirty work, killing Jesus and being rid of him. 

Application:

I wonder if the people who were a part of the “consultation” ever had misgivings about their actions? Later, when there was time to reflect on what was witnessed, they may have had an entirely different perspective. The problem is that they got caught up in the moment and the momentum of the group. There was no time to think critically or reflectively. 

In today’s world it’s easy to get caught up with the group. If you listen to the news, or follow social media, you can get caught up in “group think.” These days there’s something new to push along the crowd, nearly by the hour. Decision making in these kinds of settings are not always good. 

We have been given an opportunity to slow down and listen to the voice of God. Psalm 46:10 reminds us: 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth.”

We are not to be moved along by “group think,” but by the whisper of the voice of God. For us to hear that voice we have to slow down and learn to listen. Many of us are now sequestered to our homes and we are struggling to slow down into a new pace. It is in this place that we can move away from the fast-paced, let’s hurry up and make a decision, action of the group, and rest in the presence of God. 

Those at Jesus’ trial missed the Messiah declaring to the world that He was the Son of God. They missed Him quietly accepting the punishment that would bring life. Too busy with our own desire for control, we may confer with the world, and miss the miracle of God right in front of us. 

Prayer:

Lord, help me to be still. I need to hear you. Amen.