Christian Living
"And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." (Matthew 21:8-9)
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem those who looked on were shouting hosanna or save us. They showed the Lord false honor by laying garments and palm branches before the beast Christ sat upon.
During this glorious entrance in the Jerusalem, you would think that the people who witnessed Christ incarnate would have recognized that this was it! This is who the prophets wrote about, this is what the many years of them being bound by oppressors prepared them for.This was salvation. This is the Messiah.
But at the root of the fanfare was emptiness. The shouts were not sincere as the people wanted salvation from the oppressive hand of the Roman government and not salvation from sin and themselves.
What Jesus had to give was not desirable because it would cause those who received it to change their lifestyle and way of thinking. It would require them to possibly endure more suffering they had ever experienced. It would require them to be content at times when life seems to be at its worst. It would require faith. The freedom Christ came to give did not meet man's expectations and therefore the people tried to do away with Him.
After Christ's entrance into the city He headed for the temple. There he found several things taking place inside but no worship. There were moneychangers and people selling sacrificial items as well as those taking a shortcut through the temple. But no worship.
Where were the gatekeepers of the temple? Those who should have known better and should have stopped this from happening? They too were involved, not considering the serious offense they committed by allowing this to occur.Jesus' immediate reaction was to cleanse or purge the temple.
There are some who may have cried out to the Lord for salvation but after Christ came into their hearts, He was ignored or rejected. Many thought the entrance of Jesus would make all of their troubles disappear. It didn't. What it does give is the ability to overcome the trials of this world.
Many of us often cry Hosanna, yet when salvation and truth is presented we reject it because it's not what we thought it would be. We reject those who bring us truth and receive those who bring words that are more comfortable and pleasing to us.
Out of the same group that cried, "Save!" comes "Crucify!" None of those who allowed Christ to be crucified understood what they were missing. All they could see was there immediate need and discomfort. They were ignorant of the true liberty that the Lord came to give them.
How many times have we said hosanna and when the Lord heard us; and sent an answer we rejected it because it wasn't what we wanted to hear at the time? And just as He did in Jerusalem, Christ immediately headed for the temple.
Inside of the temple, our body, were many activities but no true worship. Although we often want a quick solution, Christ's objective is to cleanse the temple. When we cried unto the Lord for salvation,He heard us. Though we couldn't see past our immediate need, Christ saw our real need.
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