Crucifying Hosannas!
Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord! These were the shouts of praise for Jesus entering Jerusalem. Yet these same voices would yell crucify, crucify! Why and how could they in such a short time turn from the one they saw as Messiah and seek to have him turned over and destroyed? There are several things that could have led them there, but mostly it boils down to he was not what they wanted him to be.
They expected a coming and conquering King that would destroy their enemies. They wanted someone with military might that would expel the Romans and end the humiliation that they felt at the hands of a people that were unclean. They wanted him to rise up and lead them in a rebellion that would transform the way that they lived. They wanted to be the ones who were the occupiers rather than the occupied. They wanted to be relieved and exact revenge.
Yet, his Kingdom was not what they expected. Far from needing an army with swords, chariots and infantry, he needed people with open hearts who were willing to let the Kingdom grow in their hearts and infect the whole of their lives. He was bringing them something far more powerful than a traditional army could deliver. He was bringing something that would bring the Kingdom across boundaries and borders so that humanity could build a community that bridged the divides of humanity to one.
That Kingdom was not what they wanted. Therefore, they turned on the one that had taught and loved them. The turned because they did not listen with pure ears, but rather with ears that heard what they wanted to hear. They heard the power and promise of his words, but did not hear his message. They could not hope to hear the truth for they did not wish to be set free. They wanted to become the prisoner with the keys to the kingdom. They wanted to find in his words something other than what he said
Now, Jesus is not the only one to be greeted with praise and then crucified by the same people in short order. We still do so today. We do it with anyone who steps forward to lead. Someone who steps forward will be greeted with the same effect in different people. Some will shout crucify. Some will slink away in fear. Others will stand silently afraid of standing up themselves. Some will take a stand and be treated in much the same way.
This week what kind of kingdom are you seeking? One where you serve or one where you are served? The first is of God the second is of sin. This week I pray that you find a way to be part of what God is doing rather than just being around what God is doing. If you do so, you will no longer be Crucifying Hosannas.
They expected a coming and conquering King that would destroy their enemies. They wanted someone with military might that would expel the Romans and end the humiliation that they felt at the hands of a people that were unclean. They wanted him to rise up and lead them in a rebellion that would transform the way that they lived. They wanted to be the ones who were the occupiers rather than the occupied. They wanted to be relieved and exact revenge.
Yet, his Kingdom was not what they expected. Far from needing an army with swords, chariots and infantry, he needed people with open hearts who were willing to let the Kingdom grow in their hearts and infect the whole of their lives. He was bringing them something far more powerful than a traditional army could deliver. He was bringing something that would bring the Kingdom across boundaries and borders so that humanity could build a community that bridged the divides of humanity to one.
That Kingdom was not what they wanted. Therefore, they turned on the one that had taught and loved them. The turned because they did not listen with pure ears, but rather with ears that heard what they wanted to hear. They heard the power and promise of his words, but did not hear his message. They could not hope to hear the truth for they did not wish to be set free. They wanted to become the prisoner with the keys to the kingdom. They wanted to find in his words something other than what he said
Now, Jesus is not the only one to be greeted with praise and then crucified by the same people in short order. We still do so today. We do it with anyone who steps forward to lead. Someone who steps forward will be greeted with the same effect in different people. Some will shout crucify. Some will slink away in fear. Others will stand silently afraid of standing up themselves. Some will take a stand and be treated in much the same way.
This week what kind of kingdom are you seeking? One where you serve or one where you are served? The first is of God the second is of sin. This week I pray that you find a way to be part of what God is doing rather than just being around what God is doing. If you do so, you will no longer be Crucifying Hosannas.
posted by Covenant of the Cross at
2:56 PM
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