On Palm Sunday Jesus rode triumphantly into the city of Jerusalem, amidst the cheers and adoration of the crowd of people that gathered along the road from Bethany to Jerusalem. “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” (Mark 11:9–10)
Late in the night, on Thursday, Jesus was betrayed by Judas and apprehended by the by the elders and the chief priests who took him to the high priest where he was charged and condemned to death. The high priest sent Jesus to Pilate who sent him to Herod who sent him back to Pilate. Pilate questioned the people about Jesus. “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.” (Matthew 27:22)
What happened between Sunday and Thursday? Why did the people turn against Jesus so quickly? The answer, Jesus did not live up to their expectations of him. They wanted a new king for Israel. Jesus never claimed to be the king of the Jews. Instead, he preached about the kingdom of heaven.
He began talking about death and said things like, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) The life of serving God was a life of service to mankind. They wanted a king to set them free from servitude. In fact, hosanna, in the Greek, means, “Oh save.” It comes from a Hebrew word, yasha, which means, rescue us. They wanted to be rescued from the Romans.
Jesus’ popularity with the people quickly dissipated. Their shouts of praise changed to calls for his death. How many people expect Jesus to be something he is not? How many of us want Jesus to fit our concept of a Savior? How many of us are willing to follow him while he feeds the multitudes but turn against him when he starts making demands of us to follow him while bearing a cross?
Jesus came to save us from our sins; and for that he had to die. Why can’t people study their Bibles and see what Jesus was really all about. How many of us praise him on Sunday but by Thursday have turned away from him?
What will you do with Jesus?
