Today, Christians around the world are celebrating ~JESUS’~ triumphal entry into Jerusalem [which we usually call “Palm Sunday,” because the crowd welcomed Him by spreading palm branches in His path]. Those who greeted ~JESUS~ were convinced He was the Messiah, or “anointed one,” sent by ~GOD~ to establish His Kingdom on earth…
So, why did the crowds turn against ~JESUS~ so quickly? One week they welcomed Him, and the next week they demanded He be crucified!!!
No events in human history were more important than ~JESUS’~ death and resurrection, and yet many people [even Christians] never take time to study them…
It must have been a dramatic sight as ~JESUS~ approached Jerusalem on a donkey [which was a sign of His humility]…
The Bible says:
“And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!!!”
{Luke 19:37-38 KJV}
Even those who weren’t part of that welcoming crowd listened eagerly to His teaching during the next few days…
But not everyone in Jerusalem welcomed Him:
“And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out!!!”
{Luke 19:39-40 KJV}
But soon many turned against ~JESUS~ and demanded His death:
“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 KJV}
These weren’t necessarily the same people who had welcomed Him—but the reversal is still striking. Were they disappointed because He refused to establish an earthly political kingdom? Probably. But ~JESUS~ didn’t come to set up a new political system. He came instead to change our hearts and save us from our sins by His death and resurrection…
He declared during that last week:
“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence…”
{John 18:36 KJV}
This deeply disappointed those who hoped He would throw out the hated Roman occupiers. They may also have disliked His demand that they repent…
Where would you have been on that first Palm Sunday? Among the disciples who welcomed Him—or among the skeptical crowds? It’s easy to condemn those who condemned ~JESUS~ but would we have acted any differently? We too are sinners, and we too have rebelled against ~GOD~…
But the central message of Easter is that ~GOD~ still loves us, and because of Christ we can be forgiven…
He came for one reason:
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit…”
{1 Peter 3:18 KJV}
May you welcome Him into your life during this Holy–Season…
Do you have any questions about a relationship with ~JESUS~ Christ???
If so, you can find the answers by using the links below:
JESUSAVESISRAEL 
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