By: Rev. Gerry Weesner, Maples United Methodist Church
“The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest!’ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’” Matthew 21:6-11 (NIV).
There was a big crowd in Jerusalem that day. Many people who didn’t even know who Jesus was even though he’d been the talk of the city in recent weeks. It was at Passover time, when many Jews from the countryside and distant countries, would be there celebrating this special feast. They were there at Jerusalem for the most Holy of Feasts, the Passover.
This crowd on this day was in a happy mood. They’re ready for a parade! They are ready to celebrate. Jesus knowing the mood of the city just before Passover, knowing the prophecies concerning how the Messiah would enter Jerusalem, and knowing what would come later, rides into the city on a donkey, his disciples beside him.
There are usually two sides in a crowd. Crowds are sometimes supportive and sometimes hostile. The crowd that Jesus faced in these days at Jerusalem was both. It started off as a cheering and supportive crowd, that’s the crowd we meet on Palm Sunday. But in a very few days possibly some of these same people are going to be a very different sort of a crowd for Jesus! These cheering, supportive people are going to turn into hostile people that call for Jesus to be crucified.
Jesus attracted crowds. People came from far away to hear him, to see him, to witness to the miracles he was doing. But a crowd can turn on you as they turned on Jesus. Jesus knew what was to come, He knew even as the people shouted in praise on Sunday what was to come on Friday. He knew what the same crowd would shout when Pilate asked them “What should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They would shout, “Let him be crucified!”
Jesus knew who he was dying for, Jesus knew and we know. We must remember that Jesus knows who we were, and who we are, and what we have done and will yet do and he still laid down his life for us, a mystery which you and I cannot truly understand, but which, when we accept it in faith turns earthly despair into heavenly triumph.
