The Easter Crowd
April 4, 2010
Palm Sunday marks a great turning point in Jesus’ life. It was at Bethany that Mary anointed Jesus with the expensive perfume. Bethany is located on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Kidron Valley that separated the Mount of Olives from Mount Moriah and the city of Jerusalem. Judas objected because it could have been sold and the money given to the poor. We contrasted the extravagant love of Mary to the heinous betrayal of Judas.
The uniqueness of Mary’s anointing Jesus was in preparation of what was to come. In the OT Samuel anointed Saul to be king of Israel and then anointed David to be king. From that time on the kings of Israel were anointed separating each to be a great leader of God’s people.
On that first Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem. He would have most likely entered by way of the Eastern Gate because it was the road that led past the Garden of Gethsemane and on to the Mount of Olives and Bethany. On this day we celebrate even as those throngs of people celebrated as they welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. They hailed Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of David. They cut down palm branches to lay on the road in front of his donkey. They waved palms in delirious joy as they cried, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel.” As Jesus made his way toward the city gate, the crowds increased. No texting, no cell phones, no Blackberries to get the word out. It happened the old fashioned way—by word of mouth and it happened quickly. People came running. Excitement filled the air. It was party time! Matthew tells us (21:10) “When Jesus entered Jerusalem the whole city was stirred.” Jesus was the conquering King and everything would be made good. Hope was in the air. There was a new king in town.
Why the party atmosphere? It was a combination of their high hopes of a delivering Messiah, and the fact that they had seen or heard the stories of Jesus’ miracles. He raised people from the dead. He healed the blind, the lame, the deaf, and the diseased. He drove out demons that had tortured people for years. He calmed the storms. He fed the 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. He even walked on water! This guy could do it all and the crowds flocked to Him. Jesus' reputation had preceded Him. No one was more popular than Jesus.
Based on this information, try if you will to imagine the expectation of the people on this first Palm Sunday? In their minds everything would be better. The Romans would be kicked out because everyone hated the occupying Roman dogs. The Romans demanded total allegiance. They demanded too many taxes. They were mean, cruel and nasty. In all of Israel there was a deep, burning resentment and hatred of the Romans. The people were ready for a little Roman beat down. They were ready for a little “David meets Goliath” victory. In Luke’s gospel (19:39ff) we read that the religious leaders told Jesus to rebuke the people. Jesus responded, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out!” John records the Pharisees conclusion in verse 19, “This is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”
Can you understand the expectation of the people? Jesus fed the 5,000 so obviously He is going to provide all kinds of food for us. He healed the sick. Who needs healthcare? If you die, Jesus will raise you from the dead! If it floods, Jesus will come and get you. Jesus will do it all. No more worries, sickness, hunger, troubles or problems. Jesus is a sure bet, even better than the Powerball!
No wonder the people partied with unabated excitement and expectation. In Jesus they had just landed Michael Jordan, A-Rod, Jim Brown, Wayne Gretsky, Dale Earnhart, and Roger Federer all rolled into one! And oh, they were ready for some hope, for some good news. They were ready for a new king.
But something happened on the way to the Roman Forum. Come Monday the party was over and nothing had changed. Tuesday came and it was the same old same old. On Wednesday the Romans still were in control. Thursday nothing happened. For 4 long days Jesus didn’t perform. He didn’t come through. All those miracles that Jesus had done, and now—nothing! Was He a fraud, a fake, a charlatan? Had the people been duped again by another man claiming to be the Messiah only to be disappointed again? Others had come before as Israel’s messiah ,and many believed and followed only to be strung up on crosses as treacherous traitors.
And now comes Friday. The people are in no mood for a party. No more Hosannas, no more waving the palms in victory and celebration. No more “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” All those people there in the crowd on Palm Sunday—the ones who shouted and waved palm branches and even laid down their coats for Jesus to walk upon--on Friday they were still sick. On Friday they still had to go to work. On Friday there were still the lame and the blind begging for food. On Friday people still died. On Friday Roman soldiers still marched along the roads.
On Friday absolutely nothing had changed! All their hope, all their celebrations, all their excitement was gone. Again we see how love and admiration can change so quickly to hatred and disappoint. The Hosannas dramatically changed to Crucify Him. Perhaps we can better understand how John could write (27:20), “But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.” Did you ever wonder why the crowd chose Barabbas over Jesus? Nothing inflames resentment like disappointment. When people are disillusioned and discouraged and disappointed without hope, they do desperate, despicable and dreadful things. It is easy to control and manipulate people without hope.
Without hope we turn to self-destructive and family-destructive habits, behaviors and lifestyle choices. Without hope we kill our bodies with food. Without hope we hide in a world of fantasy. Without hope we numb the pain through ingesting powders and pills to give us a brief moment of euphoria. Without hope we escape into a world of illicit sex. Without hope we become like sheep for the slaughter. Without hope we choose Barabbas over Jesus.
But is that it? Is the party over? Is that all there is? Praise God the answer is a resounding NO because there is more to the story. The party crowd nor the crucify crowd has the last word. The last word belongs to Jesus. “My Kingdom is not of this world,” He told Pilate. “Destroy this temple and in 3 days I will build it again,” He told the religious leaders. On Friday, the fickle crowd had their way and Jesus was horribly crucified and buried in a borrowed tomb. On Friday evil had won the day.
But Sunday’s coming! “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here. He has risen!” (Luke) Hope rekindled. Hope reborn! Jesus has defeated sin and death. Despair, disillusionment, and disappointment no longer have to rule over us because our hope is in Jesus who said, “I am come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) We have hope in Jesus who said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life of his friends. You are my friends…”(John 15:13-14) We have hope in Jesus who said, “I am the Living One. I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever.” (Rev. 1:18)
If you are not a believer, then there is no hope apart from Jesus. If you are a believer you have hope. Whatever you situation, whatever you are facing, whatever you are battling, whatever you are going through knowing Jesus gives us hope and promise. It may not be today nor tomorrow but when I have Jesus I have all I need to handle life’s garbage. In Jesus I have God’s full armor to protect against Satan’s onslaughts and attacks.
The Palm Sunday crowd had hope in a man. The Friday crowd destroyed that man. But God raised that man on Sunday and because He lives I too can live. Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trouble, but I have overcome this world.” (John 14) In Jesus we too can overcome this world. In Jesus we have eternal hope that nobody and no thing can destroy.
In Jesus we have hope in this life and hope for and in heaven. One day as we gather round the throne of Jesus we’ll be shouting “Hosanna! Blessed be the Son of David. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God and He shall reign forever and ever, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
That excites me! And I can’t wait. Can you imagine it? Can you see it? Will you be there?