There are others that are mentioned in stories about Jesus.

There are his followers, the twelve and seventy-two and thousands. But then there are the others.

Judas, one of the twelve, ended up as one of the others. He expresses remorse, but he never looks for Jesus or the rest of the followers. He killed himself.

The chief priests, never part of any group of followers, are the ultimate others. They pursue Jesus’ end to the end.

Pilate, a follower of himself and Caesar, was an other. His wife may not have been an other, having had a bad enough dream about Jesus that she warned Pilate to free him. Pilate, however, didn’t even listen to his wife. He gave permission for crucifixion.

The crowd were others. They yelled for the release of a criminal and for the death of Jesus.

The guards were others, ridiculing and torturing.

All of the others identified in Matthew 27 actively pursued the destruction of Jesus. They were after him. They were threatened by him. They plotted and bargained and pleaded and pounded nails.

None of them in any way were indecisive. Not like his followers.

His followers were hanging around the edges,  the fringe. They listened with fear. They fled.

There were some other others, of course, the ones clueless that anything was going on, the ones in their houses, eating supper, reminding the kids about homework, going to bed. While this nighttime drama was playing out, they were sleeping.

Followers now, like followers then, have a choice. We can pay attention. We can ask for help. We can follow.

The others are still around. There are people who understand exactly who Jesus claims to be and don’t like it. We can step up and do something.

We can die for them. Like Jesus.