(Verse 32) - Here we see the earliest recorded incident of poll driven decision making in history! The Pharisees think one thing, say another thing, and then, because of perceived public opinion, go ahead and do a third thing. How lusciously and elegantly corrupt! We might call this also the first recorded instance of religious politics!

This is a sterling example of how NOT to lead. No Biblical leader leads by finding out what the people want and then giving it to them. That is an almost criminal error. That us conducting Church business as of the church were a democratic political endeavor. The verb here is a word that literally refers to a loud humming, like the buzz of a horde of bees. It is this buzz, a good bit of it in defense of Christ that spurs the Pharisees to action.

We should note that opposition to the things of God is the great ''uniter" of men. The ''Chief Priests" are the Sadducees. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were normally bitter religious enemies who vied for the allegiance of the people. It is interesting that opposing Christ was one of the few things they could get together on. Politics makes strange bedfellows so they say. Never was that more than here. ''Officers" refers to the Temple Police - the token military force that the Romans allowed the Jews to maintain. If is this "force" that the Jewish leaders send out to seize the Lord.

How do those facts apply to my life?:

I need to recognize that mere religion does odd and horrible things to people. Apart from Christ, religion  is essentially only one more corrupt form of politics. It is all about power and the exercise and maintenance of power. It is no wonder the world sees no essential difference between religions. Thy are, apart from Christ, essentially the same.

I need to be careful what causes me to make decisions. It must be the Word & the Spirit alone, and I must be certain that I do not "do politics" in my leadership of this church.