Audria and I were discussing takeaways from our daily readings this week and her comment was, “people are fickle.” She’s right. People may have short memories, they get distracted, or they become discouraged. Many times, the result of those things is that their faithfulness diminishes.
In Matthew 21, Jesus enters Jerusalem the way He deserves to — with praise and honor. It’s even more than that, though. “Hosanna!” was more than praise. It was derivative from the Hallel Psalms and meant “Save us” or “Save now”. It was a declaration that He was there to save them.
I cannot pretend to know the minds of those praising Him that day. I don’t know how much they understood, especially considering just a short time later they are calling for His crucifixion. Of course, that WAS the plan of God to save them.
Jesus — God dwelling bodily — deserved every bit of praise and still does. It is no wonder that He often needed to withdraw by Himself to pray. He faced so much opposition and derision from leading Jews. Here was God among them, and they question everything and even claim He does things by the power of Satan.
Let us be those who praise Him continually!
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)
“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:2–3)
