Yesterday as we celebrated Palm Sunday,
Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem,
(Photo by RachelRamsdellPhotography)
we read from accounts recorded in all four gospels;
📖 And a very great multitude spread their
clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and
spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and
those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:8-9 (NKJV)
📖 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And
many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and
spread them on the road. Then those who went
before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!” Mark 11:7-10(NKJV)
📖 Then, as He was now drawing near the
descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began
to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they
had seen, saying:
“ ‘Blessed is the King who
comes in the name of the Lord!’
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke
19:37-38 (NKJV)📖 The next day a great multitude that had
come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took
branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!” John 12:12-13 (NKJV)
It made me wonder....we would cheer and shout for Christ wouldn't we? Hollering His praises at the top of our lungs!?
But with in a few short days many of those same people changed their tune...they were shouting alright...."kill Him!" "release Barnabas!" "Kill Jesus. Release the criminal!"
📖 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” Matthew 27:16-23
WHAT??!! How could this happen?
We are a fickle people! Some are easily persuaded by voices around them. Not thinking for themselves. Willing to follow the crowd rather than stand out, or stand up.
📖 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. 1 Corinthians 3:19a
"Well, not me!"
But how often do I praise Jesus and then turn around and say something unkind, or be cruel or uncaring?
How often do I sing of His wonderful goodness and then let bitterness and anger take root and run out my mouth??
Or shout His promises in song and then when things get difficult or ugly and scary do I react in fear and doubt?
I may not be yelling "Kill Him" but haven't I done the same when I don't love as He loved?
📖 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 33:34
when I don't show His kindness to all?
📖Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
When I don't speak trust and hope?
📖 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:6-7
And we have so much more than they did then...we have the resurrection....He had not fulfilled that part of the prophecy yet....for His followers it was just something they had been told would happen.
For us it is a reality of what has been done for us!
When Jesus came into to town he cleared the temple....of those who were being immoral and unjust and defiling His Father’s house of prayer
📖 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” Matthew 21:12-13
That is what He came to do....with His death and resurrection He came to give us a way to clear out the immoral, sin and filth defiling our souls.
So are we going to keep singing His praise....regardless of what others are doing or saying around us....regardless of...or especially when times are dark and difficult?
🙏My prayer for you today....that you keep singing His praises no matter your circumstances, through your sorrow and pain, in your hope and in your rejoicing!❤
🎵
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