As most families of faith did, Abba’s House just observed Palm Sunday – the celebration named for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a colt among palm branches being waved and outer garments and cloaks being laid on the ground, just as a crowd would do to welcome royalty. What a treat to have our Abba’s House Kids singing “Hosanna!” to open our service then march while waving palm branches throughout our crowd gathered to worship the King of Glory!
Just as our families were joyful, clapping, singing, and welcoming the King of Glory on Palm Sunday, so were the people welcoming Jesus riding into Jerusalem in John 12:12-16 just before His crucifixion.
Let’s take a look at the crowd assembled for the Holy Week in Jerusalem. Within every crowd, you find people with different motives, needs, and levels of commitment.
Jerusalem’s population swelled as the sacred week of Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread drew faithful Jews from around the entire region. Just imagine a big sports championship weekend in one of your favorite sports to conjure up images of the number of people pouring in for the annual gathering.
Jerusalem during this window of time would have been a beehive swarming as the City of David featured the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and Temple leaders in their finest robes. The sounds of lambs would certainly have been heard throughout the area with the fare of the Passover Seder to include roasted lamb as part of the traditional meal. The massive crowd would have been assembled for religious tradition and Jewish heritage.
Jesus’ road to glory took Him into Jerusalem, fulfilling God’s Word of the Old Testament – Zechariah 9:9 – on the back of a colt never ridden as a symbol of peace. Entering in his processional with him, Jesus’ disciples, his loyal followers and messengers took it all in, knowing words spoken by Jesus were coming true. He was welcomed as the Son of David into the very city where the most cherished Jewish king reigned.
The dusty street was lined with various folks witnessing His triumphant entry as the word spread that this rabbi was coming, the one who had healed the sick, gave the blind their sight, and was speaking of forgiving the sins of all humanity.
Some in that crowd assembled had needs that drew them to Jesus. They sought healing from any number of diseases that would have disabled and threatened their lives in a time with very little medical success in treatment. Others in that crowd would be names we might recognize from Jesus’ miracles who had received their miracles:
The woman with the issue of blood for 12 years who grabbed the hem of Jesus’ garment.
Lazarus, the resurrected brother of Mary and Martha, and Jesus’ friend.
Blind Bartimeus who begged for charity as Jesus passed and called out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Man with the withered hand
10 lepers who were told to show themselves to the priest.
The paralyzed man from the pool of Bethsaida.
The young married couple whose wedding celebration was spared embarrassment by Jesus’ first miracle of blushing the water to wine.
And likely many who partook of the miraculous meals when more than 4,000 and 5,000 were fed.
The crowd who cheered Jesus’ entry certainly included those who had needs as well as those whose needs had been met.
The crowd also included those whose expectations for a Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament was of a warrior king who would address the political and military oppression of the day at the hands of the Roman Empire that demanded loyalty, permitted brutality as part of its means to the government’s end, and used execution and imprisonment along with any other form of punishment to ensure conformity and compliance.
There was even the religious crowd who hated Jesus and envied His following. Their self-righteousness was unwelcoming to the humble Rabbi from Nazareth Who often saluted them with “Woes” and terms like, “Brood of vipers.”
Regardless of the crowd’s motives, needs, or commitments, all had a universal need. They needed the Savior. They needed a Redeemer.
Today, you likely fit into one of these groups who welcome Jesus into your own home, your own family of faith, and into your daily life. You may very well be a supporter whose loyalty fits the old biker saying from the 50s, now often spoken to indicate deep loyalty. You may be a “ride or die” friend of Jesus.
You may be one in need. You may be desperate to find healing; desperate to overcome a gripping addiction or life-disabling circumstance or failure; or desperate to see life worth living after enduring great hardship.
You may be looking, as many are, for a political savior to return some sense of stability to society’s order after over a decade of pure political hatred, the weaponization of government against its citizens, and what appears to be another failed institution of man that can no longer be trusted.
Ask yourself. Exactly how do I see Jesus? Do I have a need of salvation, like all do? Do I have a physical need, beyond the spiritual? Do I spend most of my energy looking for some political leader, instead of the King of kings?
This Easter season, why don’t you welcome Him into your life? If you’re near Chattanooga, TN, please come worship with us at Abba’s House on Easter Sunday at 10:30am. If you’re outside our area, join us on our online campus at abbashouse.com/live.
Go deeper into our look at Palm Sunday by watching the full message from Pastor Ronnie.
