The Walk

As they led Him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Him, including women who were mourning and lamenting Him. But turning to them, Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Look, the days are coming when they will say, "The women without children, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed, are fortunate! Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us! And to the hills, 'Cover us!' For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Luke 23:26-31

The 'wood is green,' refers to a reasonably stable time. There was coming a time of oppression. Jesus had already indicted that in is time the temple would be destroyed, many would be killed. This actually happen at the hands of the Romans in 70 AD as a result of a Jewish uprising against the Roman overlords in 66 AD. Nero despatched Vespasian to control the riot.

The leaders who crucified Jesus could not accept such an event would occur. They were caught up in their positions, their lives in the now. Arrogance causes us to rise up and rebel. Rebellion was what Barabas was caught in and why he was jailed. They may have freed Barabas but their egos went too far, finally causing the destruction of the temple.

Rebels rarely have the full picture and they rail against what they consider unfair treatment. Yet they often fail to grasp the wider view. Much like playing chess. If you sit down all the time you miss moves that either you or your opponent can make and in so doing lose a vital piece. Always, in balttle, be well informed and get good intelligence before starting conflict.