Peer Pressure

If you know me in my day-to-day life, then you probably already know that I am a natural people pleaser. Growing up, the subject of peer pressure typically had a lot more to do with me pleasing others, even when I did not want to do something or it did not necessarily feel right. All that really mattered to me was that I did not want to upset the other person. The last thing I want to do was cause unnecessary drama or confrontation. I wanted to keep the peace. None of that horrible awkwardness or tension. No thank you. Here is the big issue though, I never gave much thought to how my actions and the persuasion of others would affect so much more than just myself. You would think by now, at 28 years old, I would not succumb to peer pressure quite so easily, but the Lord has been giving me reminders that this is just not the case. 

Earlier, I was reading in Mark chapter 15 which discusses Jesus being on trial in front of Pilate and the Romans. It is here that we see Pilate, the person who ordered the crucifixion of Christ, fall victim to peer pressure. Because of that, it changed the entire course of the world. Here is where we can see this happening in the text: Mark 15: 9-15, “And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 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.” That last verse absolutely breaks my heart in two.

In these verses, we see Pilate essentially check with the crowd three different times to make sure that they would really want to let Barabbas go in place of Jesus. Like it says in verse 15, Pilate decided to please the crowd and crucify Jesus, even though he could not find a single crime that Jesus had committed. 

Avoiding peer pressure seems like such a silly and small topic. It is just the term used for your parents trying to get you to behave, right? Wrong. It is so much more than doing what is “right” or what feels “right” in the moment. Pilate chose the easier option and the one he felt was right in that moment, and it was the wrong choice. 

The next time it can be tempting to fall into peer pressure remember that it does not affect just you, it affects everything. It has the potential to cause a lot of good but also a lot of harm. This is simply a gamble we cannot take. Remember, keep our eyes on Christ and do not please the crowd.

Lord, thank you for the gift of discernment.