April 1, 2010

Where are you in this story?

Those who shouted "hosanna" later turned against Jesus and shouted "crucify him. " But is this really true, or does this thought simple betray our own assumptions about crowd psychology?

People did seem to expect Jesus to ride into Jerusalem and then gather an army and overthrow Rome. But instead, he cleared the temple and called the Jewish leaders "wicked tenants." He told them to render unto Caesar what was Caesar's. Perhaps Jesus just angered and disappointed too many of the wrong people.

But perhaps the "hosanna" crowd and the "crucify him" crowd were different people. Because we see how the leaders were afraid of the crowd's reaction time after time. When the Pharisees questioned Jesus about his authority, Luke, Mark, and Matthew tell us that these leaders were afraid of the crowd. And Jesus continued teaching in the temple, presumably to many believers, Luke 21:37-38. This crowd's open embrace of Jesus seemed to be increasing. Perhaps, for a while, it served as his protection from the growing crowd of plotters.

Luke 22:1-2 tells us that the chief priests and elders gathered in stealth--secret--to plot against to kill Jesus. Why stealth? Because they feared his followers--the "hosanna" crowd.

So maybe the "hosanna" crowd really wasn't the same as the "crucify him" crowd after all.

Where are you in this story? In which crowd to you find yourself? While we'd all prefer to cheer "Hosanna," sometimes our actions suggest otherwise. Do you praise him or crucify him with your daily living (Hebrews 6:6)?

Do you sometimes succumb to political pressure and fail to proclaim Christ faithfully? Do you claim holiness, but harbor racism or other sin in your heart? Do you scapegoat and mistreat others,--your co-workers, neighbors, spouse, even your children?

Let us confess. For just as Jesus faithfully died on the cross for you, he is faithful and just and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

John Marshall Crowe

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for your post.
    This is what I believe...

    UNTIL THE PASTOR COMES CLEAN AND ADMITS OPENLY HIS OWN NEED FOR GOD'S GRACE, NOTHING WILL CHANGE. NOT IN HIS HEART, THE HEART OF HIS FAMILY, AND NOT IN THE HEARTS OF THE CONGREGATION.

    This is the reason most churches do NOT grow.
    They don't grow in numbers and there is little if any growth spiritually. So, I see the bigger question to be:

    WHY ARE WE GOING TO CHURCH AT ALL?

    I say, GOD DOESN'T CARE IF WE GO OR NOT!
    GOD SEARCHES OUR HEARTS. OUR MOTIVES. OUR INTENT. OUR PURPOSE. WHAT IS THAT?

    I see church as a HOSPITAL.
    A place for hurting people. People in need. A place to care for one another. Wouldn't it be silly to go to a real hospital and then just smile and act like you really don't need to be there.
    It happens every Sunday in churches everywhere.

    I personally know that DENIAL is truly sincere. We just don't see it. We don't get it until we do! But GOD will reveal to us our areas of need when we ask and are truly ready to change.

    Until we can get REAL, it's all just play-acting.
    Just pretend!

    Is anyone really fooled?

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