Triumph in the Fickleness . . .

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”

And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11

Amidst the chaos in my home this morning (ya’ll focusing on anything more than 20 seconds with these two kids and a dog who has decided that my entire purpose in being home 24/7 is to pay attention to her is nearly impossible . . . any one else with me???), I opened my Bible to read about the triumphal entry.

As I was reading the above passage of scripture, I glanced over at my notes in the margin. They read as follows:

Sunday - Jesus enters Jerusalem to the cries of "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" 

Hosanna from the Hebrew "Yashana" - "Yasha" - deliver and save and "Anna" - beg, beseech The crowds were literally beseeching Jesus to save them. They were throwing theit coats and palm fronds down to cover the path of Jesus all while crying out for deliverance and salvation. 

Friday - 5 days later - The same crowds cry out for Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified. 

And one word always comes to mind when I read this passage, fickle.

Fickle - changing frequently, especially as regards one's loyalties, interests, or affection (Oxford dictionary)

These people were fickle. Human beings are fickle. We are fickle. We live in a fickle world where loyalty and devotion mean little, and one day we can be madly in love with someone or something, and five days later, we’re shouting “Crucify . . . “.

Brennan Manning, author of The Ragamuffin Gospel, is quoted as saying, “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” Manning was no stranger to struggles with sin. Alcoholism, his alcoholism, literally destroyed his life. Which makes this quote all more powerful and poignant. He knew deeply the need for the grace of Jesus, the power of the cross, the redemption of the resurrection. But he also realized the effects of his own choices and actions on others.

God is not surprised by our fickleness, failings, and personal battles. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing and what was to come. Romans 3:23-24 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” That “all” is me. That “all” is you. That free justification is for everyone.

The journey to the cross . . . the crucifixion and the resurrection . . . encompassed Jesus’s whole purpose in coming to this earth . . . to save a fickle people from their sins. The only thing we absolutely have to do to be saved is open our hearts and accept His forgiveness.

Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

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