Palm Sunday

Today is what is known as Palm Sunday. As I'm reflecting on the events that occurred on the original Palm Sunday, I can't help but wonder where I would have been on that day had I been alive. For years people had waited for their Messiah to come and deliver them. They watched and waited. The temple doors were left open in order for their coming King to enter into the tabernacle. The Roman guards were on high alert because there was always the threat of uprising at this time of the year. Can you imagine the electricity in the air?


Were the people hanging outside the walls in anticipation of the coming Messiah? Would anyone other than Jesus had received the same type of reaction upon their entry? How many others knew the prophecies and had attempted to enter as the chosen one? So many questions run through my mind as I take the time to truly think of this day thousands of years ago. Did everyone begin to gather after the donkey was taken? They knew the King they were waiting for would make His entry upon a colt. Surely it was a sign that the One was coming! Let's read of the welcome Jesus received as He rode in upon the donkey:


"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! And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? So the multitudes said, This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee." Matthew 21: 8-11


The act of spreading their clothes and the branches on the road was a sign of great respect and honor. It was not even Jesus' own feet that were the ones touching the ground, but that of an animal. Hosanna translates to "help us" or "save us." It was said in praise to Jesus as they acknowledged He could possibly be the one who could save them. How many of these people had been present at Jesus' teachings? Had they witnessed the miracles that occurred through Him? How many would have been there simply because they already saw a crowd and decided to join in the festivities? The scriptures tell us as Jesus came into the city, ALL the city was moved. Something stirred inside of them as Jesus came into their presence. 

Sadly, when I read this I think of our modern day church. We see a crowd gathering so we decide to join in on the action. We want to lay out the best of everything in order to usher in the King. The show is a good one, but do we also do the same thing as the people present that day will do as the week progresses? On Sunday, it's all about Jesus and shouting out to Him to save us. The bright lights, fancy sound equipment, and other "best" of everything things we do are supposed to lay the groundwork to usher in the Holy Spirit. Right? Yet, by Tuesday we have turned our back on Him and are yelling "Crucify Him!" Maybe not with our words, but with our actions. It is our sins that cry out to crucify Him.  It is because of our sins, just as those present that day, that Jesus entered into the city on Sunday knowing in full what lay ahead of Him. 


As He rode in while hearing the cries to save them, I wonder if Jesus grieved. He knew the salvation that was needed and He also knew those crying out for salvation would shortly turn on Him. I pray that I would be one of the few willing to stand in association with Him on that day of judgment. Rather than yelling out to "crucify Him!" I pray my life would be one of constantly recognizing my need of Him. The more I stay in this Christian walk, the more I recognize my extreme need of Him. The people in Jerusalem that day recognized their need on Sunday, but preferred to free a murderer on Tuesday. They chose sin over the sinless. We each face the same choice daily. 

If you were praising Him this morning, where will you be on Tuesday?