Post Palm Sunday Reflections

Hosanna! The word translated means “Lord save us!” "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"  (Matthew 21:9 & Psalm 118)  Three days ago, we celebrated Palm Sunday.  Although we are moving toward Easter, I find myself still reflecting on Palm Sunday.  Can you imagine the excitement in Jesus' day? Can you imagine the electricity that must have been surging through the crowds of Jerusalem as Jesus approached on that first Palm Sunday? The culmination of Jesus’ ministry was coming together as the crowds praised the long hoped for Messiah! And Jesus’ acceptance of their praise left nothing hidden. He was who He claimed to be, and it appeared that the crowds seemed to understand exactly what was taking place. Passover was only five days away, and as they shouted the words of Psalm 118, one of the traditional Passover Psalms, everything seemed to be coming together with perfection!  Jerusalem was honoring their Messiah! Their King! Throwing their clothing to the ground before Him, they soon ran out and began covering His path with palm branches. “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

And five days later, many of that exact same crowd, had Jesus beaten, humiliated, ridiculed, flogged and finally crucified on the cross. Have you ever asked yourself, “What happened!?” How could many of the same people that praised the coming of their King have changed their views so drastically?  How could their devotion be so quickly change to hatred?  Quite simply; things are not always as they appear. Even the disciples did not fully understand what was about to happen and the true reason Jesus entered Jerusalem. Not until He died and was raised from the dead did His followers, and a small number at that, realize what “Messiah” really meant.

My question for us this week is “Do we really understand what Messiah really means?” Do we sometimes expect Jesus to come riding in to save the day by wiping out enemies with one slash of His sword? Do we expect Him to take away all of our pains, troubles and hurts with one instantaneous prayer? Do we expect Him to establish the kingdom that we long for, or the kingdom that His will demands? Are we looking at a future victory, or celebrating in the victory that already is?

Many children were present as Jesus entered Jerusalem. They joined in the celebration, shouting "Hosanna!", running beside mom and dad or possibly perched atop Dad's shoulders. They heard the exaltation. They heard the praise. But a week later, they heard some of the same voices shouting, "Crucify him!" Can you imagine the confusion? And I wonder if today's children are just as confused by what they see and hear from adults and the Church today? We shouts praises to God on Sunday morning, but then when things don't work out they way we think they should, we respond with the proverbial "Crucify Him!"

I encourage you this week to celebrate Christ! Allow Him to be Messiah in your life, in your family, in your ministry and in your home. Celebrate when He triumphantly enters Jerusalem, and celebrate when He is nailed to the cross.