Context:
Continuation of Jesus' final trip to Jerusalem
Text:
28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29As hetaken from www.biblegateway.com
approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent
two of his disciples, saying to them, 30"Go to the village ahead of you, and as
you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.
Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell
him, 'The Lord needs it.' "
32Those who were sent ahead went and found
it just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked
them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34They replied, "The Lord needs
it."
35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and
put Jesus on it. 36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of
Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices
for all the miracles they had seen: 38"Blessed is the king who comes in
the name of the Lord!"[a]
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke
your disciples!"
40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the
stones will cry out." (NIV)
Footnotes:
Luke
19:38 Psalm 118:26
In 1968, famed artist Andy Warhol stated: "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes."
Have you had your moment of fame yet? Due to our widespread technology, people can be world-famous almost immediately with a great YouTube video, a shocking crime, a great athletic feat, or even a moment of sheer stupidity. In many cases, people wish their moment would have ended before it began! Just ask a teenager whose supposed friends posted something cruel on Facebook for the whole school to read.
Jesus' moments of fame seems like a wonderful parade. He rides through the crowd on a donkey as people wave palm branches and then set them down to soften the donkey's steps. All struggle to get a glimpse of the new king, and the cheers are deafening.
But Jesus knew that this worldly fame would soon end in a terrible way. Did he look his fans in the eye, knowing that they would be yelling for his crucifixion in just a few short hours? Did he wish the accolades would continue for just a little longer? Or did he look at each person with love in his heart, knowing that the next few days would allow him to spend eternity with them?
I was quick to judge those who stood in the crowd waving palm branches until I realized that I am no different. I know that my relationship with Christ has held moments of great worship and praise, only to be followed by anger or distrust when something 'bad' happened in my life or the world.
The amazing thing is that Jesus loves us JUST THE SAME whether we are cheering him on or part of a crowd crying for his crucifixion. He can handle both emotions and he remains true to us even when we aren't.
That kind of love is beyond my comprehension.
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