On Palm Sunday, Jesus he enters the city on the back of a colt. People ask the question, "Who is this?" The crowd reaction to Jesus that day was dramatic, fantastic and joyous. Some people even recited scripture as Jesus entered, saying,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
Who was Jesus to the people of Jerusalem?
Some simply knew where Jesus was from – Nazareth in Galilee. Some considered him to be a Prophet. They expected this Rabbi, teacher, prophet, and leader to be the one to save them from the daily grind. They simply wanted Jesus to save them from their discontent.
" People think they need more money, but that’s not it. Or they think they need more self-worth. That isn't it either. Too many people let circumstances determine their lives, and so fail lasting happiness. What people lack is knowledge of the God who can liberate them from their fate-from those daily events that rule their lives." [B]
Some thought his entry into Jerusalem that day was the beginning of the end of Roman rule. Somehow Jesus would save the people from their oppression. The word, "Hosanna" is a plea for mercy, so the crowds cry to the anointed king for deliverance." [C] In general terms the politically compromised crowd was asking this popular Rabbi, who was in the line of David to - " 25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success." (Psalm 118)
They knew Jesus could change things, but their plan was not his plan. They were only seeing their desires for the present and Jesus was looking at the whole picture!
The greetings that they called out They expected he would be the answer to the questions they thought were the most puzzling. This Rabbi, teacher, prophet, leader would be the one to save them from the daily grind. They wanted Jesus to save them from their discontent.
" When the crowds cry "Hosanna to the Son of David!" and " This is a prophet," they use the right words, but they miss the point. They have all the notes and none of the music… Knowing the truth is not the same as doing the truth." [D]
On Palm Sunday there were many people in the crowd. They were all looking, searching and wanting to be saved. Only most didn't realize God was walking among them that day. Jesus – " the image of the invisible God." (Col 1:15 – 20) Jesus came to town that day, but they weren't fully aware of whom he was and what he had come to do. Their instincts told them that Jesus was more than what they saw before them. He was different. Caught up in the excitement of the moment, the people of Jerusalem celebrated Jesus shouting,
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
Sadly the excitement and approval of the people on Psalm Sunday was not lasting when the actions of Jesus didn't match the expectation of the crowds. One week after the cheering "Hosanna" to Jesus - the masses hearts have turned. They hand Jesus over to be crucified by the same government they wanted Jesus to overthrow.
How is it possible that the action that the crowd desired from Jesus was not what they needed the most? Many times we expect God to give, do and be who and what we think we need and we are disappointed or shocked when our expectations are not met.
Jesus has a habit of surprising people. Jesus does not play favorites based on whom we are, where we come from and who are parents are. Jesus calls the crowd to follow him. Jesus calls all of us to stop and consider who he really is, be thankful and simply follow him.
Galatians 3:28
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Jesus was on a journey on Palm Sunday when he entered Jerusalem. He was on a journey to the cross so that the crowd could become one with him. The crowd was willing to setting for a new leader, but Jesus was calling them to see the bigger picture. Jesus calls us to see the big picture
Humanity would be made new and to be resurrected, if they would follow Jesus on his resurrection journey.
John 10:10-11 "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
Sometimes, I am like the boy Barthius in the story. I want to hold on to my life like the colt he was so worried about. Maybe I think that my life isn't useable or suitable for Jesus. Maybe I become satisfied with a segment of life, instead of accepting that Jesus wants all of it. Jesus desires that we all live full lives. Jesus calls all of us to join him on the journey of resurrection. Let this Palm Sunday be the day that we shout,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
Today may we fully understand whom Jesus is and what he came to do – to bring us life and life to the FULL!
Prayer:
May this journey towards Easter Sunday draw us closer, ever closer to being and becoming the people we were created to be.
Jesus, resurrect us. Remind us that you were willing to lay your life down for us – all of us.
Challenge and call us to join you on your journey and bring us to life
- life to the full!
Notes:
[A] Intermission, James C. Schaap
[B} Jesus is the victor, pg.34
[C] W. F. Albright and C. S. Mann, Matthew: Introduction, Translation, and Notes. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1971, p. 252.
[D]New Int. Bible, Pg. 404
Barthius and the colt
"Barthius searched frantically for his father, but the streets were jammed with the festival crowd. Somewhere among them was his father, but where? Barthius pushed and struggled through the mob and the dust and the noise. He had to find his father soon -- before he saw their own colt in the strange parade moving up the road. He had to find him, tell him how he tried to stop the men who took the colt, but couldn't ... The skies seemed almost white in the heat. Sweat curled down the boy's temples and ran down the back of his head as he kept searching. All around him people were chanting about the king of the Jews. Barthius found his father at a turn in the road, his arms loaded with palm branches. "Father," he said, panting. "Father, our colt -- it is gone. I tried to stop them -- " The noise around them was deafening.> "So what is bothering you?" his father said. "You can see what a great holiday this is for Israel." Barthius stared, trying to catch his breath. The energy in his father's eyes burned like nothing he had ever seen before.> "Here now, my son -- help me here." Together they laid the branches over the road. For just a minute Barthius looked down past the stream of people on either side and saw, far down the way, a clump of people around a man on his father's best colt. "Father, it is our colt he is riding -- the man they call Jesus." He tried to explain again, but his father seemed possessed. "I'm trying to tell you -- ," he said, but his father paid no attention. He was yelling with the crowd and tossing branches wildly. "It is a great day, my son," his father said, sweeping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm. "It is the day of the beginning. We will no longer be slaves to the Romans! You hear me? No longer Jewish slaves. The day of deliverance!" Barthius stopped at the side of the road and stared down at the men coming towards them. His eyes rested on the still-blurry face of the man riding their colt. "You think this Jesus is the king?" Barthius asked. "Everyone says so. They say he can raise people from the dead," his father said. "Surely he can free us from the Romans -- "> "Father, he is riding our colt. It is our colt there beneath him -- " His father stared. "Wonderful," he said. "Our own colt, you say? The new king of the Jews riding our colt. How proud we should be, Barthius. Never forget this, my son!" Barthius stood in silence while the crazed people around him chanted wildly about this man they called the king of the Jews."
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