Over the course of most people’s lives, they make a LOT of choices and decisions due to peer pressure. They are afraid of what others might think about them or do if they don’t make the choice everyone else wants them to make. Sadly, if we look back at our lives, we can all think of choices and decisions we made that we wouldn’t have made had we not felt the pressure of those around us.
One of the worst cases of peer pressure can be found in the pages of the Bible. If we read the story of Pilate, who surrendered Jesus Christ to be crucified, we find some interesting information.
Look at John 19:6-8; “When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, ‘Crucify him, crucify him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.’ The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.’ When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid.” When Pilate heard them say “he has made himself the Son of God”, that made him really afraid. “What have I done? Is this guy REALLY the Son of God?” probably went through his mind more than anything else.
Look further in the chapter at verse 12, “From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, ‘If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.'” Pilate was almost convinced that he should just release Jesus, but the crowd outside said otherwise.
Mark 15 gives us a little more information, “And Pilate again said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?’ And they cried out again, ‘Crucify him.’ And Pilate said to them, ‘Why? What evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him.’ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” (Mark 15:12-15) Did you notice that phrase “So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd”? Jesus Christ was delivered to be crucified simply because Pilate gave into the pressure of the crowd, even though he found no fault in Him!
What choices do we often make that we really know we shouldn’t or we really don’t want to make, yet we give into the crowd around us? Remember what Paul wrote in Galatians 1:10, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Don’t allow this world or anyone else to pressure you into making wrong choices. You alone are responsible for the choices and decisions you make in this life, and you will give an account to God for them one day!