I stood at the altar during praise and worship on Palm Sunday, overwhelmed in His presence. Eyes closed, hands raised, I joined with my church family in celebration of the King of Kings.
Shouts of praise could be heard from all around the sanctuary.
Sounds of adoration and proclamation filled the room.
“Jesus!”
“The King is here!”
“You are worthy, Lord!”
Just that morning before church I found myself buried in the scriptural account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The people lined the street and shouted in celebration and praise. The scenario now seemed strangely familiar and personal as I imagined that dirt road in the midst of my own celebration.
Suddenly I could hear the thunder of the feet of those running after and alongside Jesus.
The Bible says a great multitude spread out their clothes and placed branches on the road before Him. They cried out in great praise and honored Him as He rode by.
I closed my eyes and could hear them shouting the same words coming from my own mouth this morning.
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!”
I began to draw a parallel in my mind and my heart was suddenly broken and in great conflict – wanting to praise but knowing what the next week held and remembering times of my own great betrayal.
There would be another crowd just a few days later but their cries would be much different.
I know there is tremendous debate on whether there were any of the same people present in both crowds. It was certainly two very different crowds but I have to wonder, though, if maybe some of those who celebrated Jesus on Sunday were some of the same who condemned Him on Friday?
Could it have been some of the same people who believed in Him but were afraid to stand up for fear of being put out of the synagogue by the Pharisees?
- for they loved the praise of man more than the praise of God (John 12:43)
These words are written into my own story as I spent many years trying to please people even at the expense of pleasing God. But I rejoice in the freedom found by pursuing relationship with my Savior, to know and to be known by a Holy God.
Or could it have been those who once believed but chose to listen to the voices of opposition? The Pharisees certainly turned the mood that week by speaking falsely against Jesus. I can just imagine the terrible lies they were spreading as their resistance ensued in the following days. Nothing like a little slander and defamation of character to sway public opinion.
The enemy does that to us, too. Doesn’t he?
He twists and turns and lies and manipulates any way he can to keep us from believing God is Who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.
Or maybe it was those who misunderstood Jesus. Their expectation of His being the long-awaited Messiah involved an earthy kingdom. As the days progressed, it became apparent Jesus would not be taking up residence in the palace.
When He didn’t meet or fulfill those expectations, I can imagine there was some confusion and disappointment.
He was not the messiah the people were expecting.
Maybe you’ve been disappointed, too.
Maybe you’ve had some expectations about Jesus that haven’t been met.
Sometimes our loved ones don’t get healed in the way we expect them to be healed.
Sometimes bad things happen to good people.
Sometimes we cry out to God and He is silent.
I don’t know if you’ve been any of these people, but I’ve been all of them. I’ve praised Him on Sunday and denied Him on Friday. I’ve cared more about man’s opinion of me than God’s. I’ve believed lies from the enemy. And I have allowed disappointment and discouragement to set in when God didn’t meet my expectations.
Through all of this, He has never stopped loving me.
He has never stopped loving you.
No matter which group you are in (or have been in), God loves you the same. No matter how many times we have rejected or denied Jesus, He willingly died on the cross for each of us. His love, mercy, grace, salvation, hope, healing, and forgiveness are available to each one of us in the same measure. We just have to accept it.
Jesus died on the cross but the story doesn’t end there.
Three days later the earth shook, the stone was rolled away, and Jesus rose again. He’s alive today and desires a living, real relationship with you. With me.
What He offers is not a bunch of religious activities or a list of rules to follow but a loving, personal, intimate knowing of each other. A daily communing. A moment by moment abiding in His presence.
Don’t miss out by listening only to what others have to say about Him. Find out for yourself who He is.
Easter is a time to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. But we don’t hang up our faith when we put away our Easter clothes. We get to celebrate new life every single day.
I celebrate the new life I found in Him many years ago when I said yes to His gift of salvation.
If you haven’t said yes to this gift and haven’t received Jesus as Savior but you want to – might I encourage you . . . say yes today!
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
And Romans 10:9-10 assures us, “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
I would love to pray with you! Please feel free to comment below or send me a private email.
xo
Shelly
