A Message From Our Pastor

The Pastor's Corner

Luke 23:20-24

See Luke 23:20-24 in the Pastor's message


Luke 23:20-24 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.
21 But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
22 For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished
and then release him." 23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided togrant their demand.

Public opinion is such a fickle beast. I say "fickle" because it is often likely to change. I say "beast" because it is a powerful but not necessarily good force. Pilate was obviously reluctant to have Jesus crucified. He could find nothing in Jesus that would warrant such a
sentencing. The text says that Pilate even "wanted" to have Jesus freed!
But even more than that, it says in Matthew that Pilate's wife sent him a message while he was sitting on the judge's seat that said, "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal
today in a dream because of him." (Matthew 27:19)

So what happened? The answer in verse 21 is simple: "But they kept shouting." Public opinion roared like a beast chasing its prey. "Give us Barrabus!" they shouted. Pilate asked the crowd, "What shall we do with
Jesus?" And the crowd answered, "Crucify him!" Pilate even said to the people, "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" To which all the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" (Matthew 27:24-25)

Sometimes wisdom can come from many people getting together and jointly solving a problem. But then again, sometimes the opposite can happen as well. Public opinion is ever changing and powerful. There are many battles
today that are making the headlines that have to do with public opinion and religion. The masses in America project strong messages that are often hostile towards Jesus' words: "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Public opinion says that there are many ways to "God" as you understand him and that no one exclusively holds the truth.

These same kinds of messages are also all around us in our everyday lives.
They are at our work and in our homes, within our families and friends, on the television and computer, and in books and magazines. These are the voices of the masses around us, compelling us to join them and follow their lead instead of Jesus. They are encouraging us to choose the world's way instead of The Way. "Look out for yourself," "Do whatever you want,"
"Follow your own path," is what they say. "There are many ways to spiritual fulfillment; the Bible isn't really the only book that is truth." Listen long enough and even the most devoted Christian can easily join the crowd.
It starts with little things like being dishonest if it benefits you and doesn't hurt anyone else. It ends with large things like doubting that the Bible is really the true word of God.

Jesus never said that following him was going to be easy. As a matter of fact, he often talked of the difficulties one would encounter while being a disciple of the Lord. Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide
is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) The masses keep shouting to us to join them on the wide, broad road. But there is a still, small voice within our hearts that gently calls us in another direction. If we listen,then we will hear it. If we follow that voice, then we are following Christ.

Pastor Chris










Pastor Rev. Christopher Stevens

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Educational Background

· Master of Divinity Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
South Hamilton, MA.
Bachelor of Business Marketing
University of Massachusetts
Lowell, MA.
Magna Cum Laude National Business Honor Society

Family Information

Pastor Chris and his wife Jenny have two children
Emily age 9 and Timmy age 7