Palm Sunday and Jesus

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we traditionally celebrate as Palm Sunday, there were two responses to Him.  The first response was one of praise.  The crowds greeted Jesus with “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  Hosanna means salvation and they were clearly acknowledging Jesus Christ as the Messiah of Israel. 

The second response was from the religious leaders.  Matthew records that they were indignant (Mt 21:15), while Luke tells us that they commanded Jesus to “rebuke the disciples.”  (Lk 19:39).  John alludes to the leaders beginning a plot to find a way to have Jesus executed, since the crowds and disciples were clearly welcoming Jesus as the Messiah.

When Jesus shows up there often is two responses to His name.  It is indeed a point of joy when He is welcomed as Savior and praised as Lord of Lords.  But we often see another response from many in the world.  Often Jesus is dismissed and receives little attention.  Other times, we see hatred and even a scoffing at their need to turn to Him for forgiveness and salvation. 

Jesus told us, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”  (Matthew 10:34)    While Jesus came to bring us salvation, the forgiveness of sin and peace with God, the Bible also teaches that when we choose to reject Him, we would remain “enemies” of God.  (Rom 5:10)   But the goodnews of the gospel is this “God shows His love for us in this that while we were sinners, Christ dies for us.”  (Rom 5:8)