And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!”  Matthew 21:7-9 HCSB

Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday. Today’s Scripture passage is an excerpt from a part in the Bible which is titled The Triumphant Entry. Jesus entered the town of Jerusalem on a donkey to fulfill the Scriptures which say, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus entered the town of Jerusalem humbly. But the crowds went wild. They were praising Him. They spread their robes and branches from palm trees to roll out the red carpet per se for Him. In less than a week, however, they would be shouting, “Crucify Him!”

I would like to spend this time between now and Easter looking at this week in the life of Jesus. When we consider Jesus, we must remember that He was fully man and fully God. He knew that He was riding to His death. He knew that the time of His crucifixion was drawing near. He also knew because He was fully human that he would feel the pain of the flogging as the metal ball with the spikes hit His back. He would feel the nails being driving into His hands and feet. He would struggle to take a breath as He hung on the cross. He knew of the humiliation He would endure. He knew that many of those praising Him today would betray Him in a few days.

The four gospels each tell the story of Jesus’ life from different perspectives. In John 12 it speaks of how six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany where He had raised Lazarus from the dead.  It was here that Lazarus’s sister Mary anointed Jesus with some very expensive oil. Judas who would betray Him complained that the oil could be sold, and the proceeds given to the poor. This sounds noble, but we are told that Judas was the treasurer and would often take what was put in the money box. What he was really saying was that this oil could be sold, and he could take the money.  Jesus told Judas to leave Mary alone because she was anointing Him for the day of His burial. Jesus tried to prepare the disciples as best He could for His coming crucifixion.

Because Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, many testified as to what they had seen, and this was bringing more and more people to Jesus. This upset the chief priests and they plotted to kill Lazarus (John 12:10-11) as it was Lazarus’ resurrection that was causing many of the Jews to believe in Jesus. The very next day was the day that Jesus would make his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He would enter Jerusalem on a lowly donkey showing the humility of a lowly servant, but the crowds would shout, “Hosanna in the highest!” They are saying, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!”  Psalm 118:25-27 says, “Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! God is the LORD, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.” These people were praising Jesus now but would be rejecting Him soon after this triumphant entry.

Yesterday, our pastor asked a simple question in his sermon, “What will you do with Jesus?” Will you accept Him and praise Him as they did on Palm Sunday, or will you reject Him as they did at the Passover? He died to save you from your sins. You only have one of two choices. You can accept Him or reject Him. Which will it be? He died so that you may have eternal life. Will you reject that or are you willing to live for Him? Will you give Him glory, honor and praise?

Jesus knew what these people were going to do, yet still He was willing to die for them to save them from their sins. He did the same for us. As we go through the Scriptures looking at the week before Christ’s crucifixion, I encourage you to ask yourself will you accept and praise Him, or will you reject Him? The choice is yours.

Have a great day!