A Fickle Crowd

This coming Sunday is traditionally referred to as Palm Sunday – the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as a symbol of a king coming in peace. What I find interesting about this is the voice of the crowd.

As Jesus rides into town the crowd shouted,
Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven! (Matt. 21:9)

A week later, when Jesus stood before the Roman Governor Pilate, we are told,
But the crowd shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” (Matt. 27:23)

When Pilate declared Jesus to be innocent,
all the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” (Matt. 27:25)

What a fickle crowd!

Jesus is never fickle though. Despite the questions, the rejections, the accusations, the threats and the denials, Jesus remains resolute in his mission of dying an innocent death on the cross so that we might be set free from the consequence of our sins. Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus comes to us for that very reason. He doesn’t come forcing his way in. Rather, as prophesied by the prophet Zechariah,  he comes gently, riding on a donkey, a beast of burden, symbolic of the work and service that he himself is about to undertake for the sake of us all.

Jesus still comes to us gently today. He doesn’t force himself upon anyone. Rather, he offers himself to serve us by removing our guilt and shame and replacing it with a sense of hope; by removing our hatred and enabling us to love; and ultimately, by closing the door of hell and opening the gates of heaven.

During our own fickle times, may we remember that Jesus is always there, not forcing his way in, but gently offering himself to serve us by providing us with what we truly need in that moment.

Stuart Traeger
Spiritual & Cultural Leader