Hosanna!

Some people say that the same crowd that shouted: "Hosanna" (Matthew 21:9) cried out, "Crucify Him!" (Mark 15:13) a week later.  But I think the crowds were majorly different.  The crowd that followed Jesus must have seen and experienced the miracles and messages of Jesus.  Those who wanted to crucify Jesus were the Jewish leaders who did not like the claims of Jesus.  As the reputation of Jesus as a healer and miracle worker spread, the crowds come to Him in more significant numbers, prompting the Jewish leaders to despise Him more.  Palm Sunday reminds us that the reign of Christ is far greater than any man's mind could ever imagine or think.

The oppressed Jewish people were expecting a king to come and deliver them from Roman rule since the prophecy in Zach 9:9 said, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you”.  They expected a king who could physically liberate them from Roman rule.  The people waited for an earthly king, but God had a different way of bringing freedom from sin to all who trusted Him.  The people were disappointed that Jesus had not done what they thought He would do—establish a physical kingdom on earth, overthrowing Rome and its power over the people.  The people were disappointed when they crucified Jesus a week later!  Yet God had the ultimate plan of sending His Son to the Cross to be the ultimate sacrifice for breaking the bond of sin and overcome death.  It seems as a little girl, Amy Carmichael was sad that her eyes were brown when all others in her country had blue eyes.  She stubbornly prayed for blue eyes.  But when she came to Dornakal as a missionary, she found the Indians had brown eyes and she looked like an Indian in Indian clothes!  Then only did she realize why God did not answer her prayer! 

My friend, are you disappointed that the Lord has not answered your prayers today?  God may not answer us the way we want our prayers answered.  But God will surely answer according to His purpose in His time.  Let us trust God and thank Him for the gift of His sacrifice, celebrating the power of the Resurrection available to us today.  "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" ( 2 Corinthians 9:15).  May the Lord answer your prayers today!

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