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!” (NIV) Matthew 21:9
Have you ever wondered why God didn’t send Jesus to earth today? or in our lifetime? With the technology we have, just think of it. . .
He could fly, not walk. He could have traveled worldwide. And those areas that He couldn’t personally visit, He could communicate via Satellite transmission – or better yet, via the Internet. There could be interviews by Katie Couric – on location with Anderson Cooper – CNN could cover His every move. But God, didn’t choose to send Christ today. . . everything He did was contrary to common sense.
It’s the Sunday before Jesus death. He enters Jerusalem in style. A very large crowd has gathered and are shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” The crowds know Jesus is presenting Himself as the Messiah, the anointed One. His ministry is thriving – word about Him has spread throughout the region.
He had been traveling through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing those who have leprosy, and driving out demons.
The people knew who He was. . . Jesus was a famous personality of His time. He would have been known by His first name only like. . . Conan or Oprah or Barack.
If men had written the story it would have been filled with events that focus on the phenomenal, the success stories. But, the Son of God hasn’t come for earthly prominence. . . He has come to Jerusalem to die.
The leaders of the day are jealous and say to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. The whole world has gone after him!” From their viewpoint, this ridiculous fanaticism with Jesus has gotten totally out of hand, and they were losing control. The masses were following Jesus instead of them, which meant potentially losing their positions, their power, and their possessions. Instead of recognizing who Jesus is – God in the flesh – they focus on their own selfish desires for power and prestige.
How do you hail Jesus as Messiah? Are your words a true reflection of your Savior? Does your lifestyle demonstrate that you are a follower of His?
Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger
