Morning Devotionals

by Don Emmitte

 

March 9th, 2008

 

"Palm Sunday, 2008"

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” (John 12:12-13 NLT).

On the first day of what we call Passion Week, Palm Sunday, the crowds cried out, "Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Yet, less than five days later, on Good Friday they cried, "Let Him be crucified." How could they turn so fast?

Some scholars suggest that the first crowd was primarily Gentile and the second one primarily Jewish, thus accounting for the discrepancy. All I can say to that is, that's a fast turnover in a country whose primary mode of transportation was sandal leather, and besides, why would a Gentile proclaim Jesus the Messiah-King on Palm Sunday? Would they even be familiar with the Messianic Psalm they were quoting?

Which brings me back to my question. How could they turn so fast? What had Jesus ever done to them? He'd healed their sick, given sight to their blind, and fed them when they were hungry. And He'd upset their leaders. Why did they turn so fast? Those who were supposed to bring them closer to God conspired to kill His Son.

That explains a lot, but it doesn't explain why Judas would celebrate the Passover one hour, and betray Him another. Or why Simon Peter would be willing to fight for Him in the garden then deny that he even knew Him later that evening. Why would those who were closest to Him turn against Him? Maybe it is the same reason that we will sing "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back" at worship, then not follow Him.

Fortunately for sinners like those in the crowd on Good Friday, Judas, Peter and us, the "one who came in the name of the Lord" came to be crucified, that we might live eternally. Today is a day to celebrate the coming of the Lord for our salvation. He is the one "who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." (Galatians 1:4). What a day to celebrate!