Discovery:
Unfortunately, faith can be very fickle.
In John 12:12-16, we see the crowds showering praise upon Jesus as he enters into Jerusalem. In v. 13 it says:
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
"Hosanna!"
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!"
Less then a week later in John 19:14-15 it says,
"It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.
But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!"
"Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked.
"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.
Why are we like this? Why are we more like fair weathered fans of Jesus rather than devoted followers of Him?
Application:
The response of the crowds during Passion Week reveals the simple fact that we are an unfaithful people. Too often we allow circumstances and situations to determine our loyalty and fidelity to God rather than our convictions and beliefs. It scares me to think that I could be one of those in the crowd who in one moment could be exalting Jesus as the King and then in a second turning on Him and calling for his death. I know that I am unfaithful to God.
But Passion Week reveals another important truth: God is faithful. Through the ups and downs of people's response to Him during Passion Week, Jesus's focus was always the cross.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus coming to grips with the cross. In Mark 14:36 Jesus says, "My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death" as well as Mark 14:36 "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
David Platt in his book "Radical" points out that Jesus is not a coward who is afraid to die on the cross. In regards to v. 36 he says: "The "cup" is not a reference to the cross; it is a reference to divine judgement. It is the cup of God's wrath." Later he says, "At the Cross, Christ drank the full cup of the wrath of God, and when he had downed the last drop, he turned the cup over and cried out, "It is finished."
The only reason why we can call it "Good" Friday is because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. He died for us and demonstrated His faithfulness to the Father and to His people.
This faithfulness needs to be the focus of this week as both Good Friday and Easter approaches.
Prayer:
Help me Lord be faithful and not fickle.
Unfortunately, faith can be very fickle.
In John 12:12-16, we see the crowds showering praise upon Jesus as he enters into Jerusalem. In v. 13 it says:
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
"Hosanna!"
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!"
Less then a week later in John 19:14-15 it says,
"It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.
But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!"
"Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked.
"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.
Why are we like this? Why are we more like fair weathered fans of Jesus rather than devoted followers of Him?
Application:
The response of the crowds during Passion Week reveals the simple fact that we are an unfaithful people. Too often we allow circumstances and situations to determine our loyalty and fidelity to God rather than our convictions and beliefs. It scares me to think that I could be one of those in the crowd who in one moment could be exalting Jesus as the King and then in a second turning on Him and calling for his death. I know that I am unfaithful to God.
But Passion Week reveals another important truth: God is faithful. Through the ups and downs of people's response to Him during Passion Week, Jesus's focus was always the cross.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus coming to grips with the cross. In Mark 14:36 Jesus says, "My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death" as well as Mark 14:36 "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
David Platt in his book "Radical" points out that Jesus is not a coward who is afraid to die on the cross. In regards to v. 36 he says: "The "cup" is not a reference to the cross; it is a reference to divine judgement. It is the cup of God's wrath." Later he says, "At the Cross, Christ drank the full cup of the wrath of God, and when he had downed the last drop, he turned the cup over and cried out, "It is finished."
The only reason why we can call it "Good" Friday is because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. He died for us and demonstrated His faithfulness to the Father and to His people.
This faithfulness needs to be the focus of this week as both Good Friday and Easter approaches.
Prayer:
Help me Lord be faithful and not fickle.
