John 12:12 – 13 & 17 – 18
“The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the King of Israel!’…Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.”
While preparing for today’s post, I took notice of chapter 11. Here Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. This had drawn a lot of attention as we see in chapter 12.
The people praised Him! They eagerly welcomed Him as “King of Israel” and that same Friday would shout to crucify Him and watch Him die.
This has always bothered me. I remember being 8 or 9 years old and watching a movie about the life of Christ on a small black and white TV in my parent’s bedroom. I remember clearly being so angry and crying as I watched Him die on the cross.
How could people see Him raise Lazarus from the dead and a week later demand His death?
Do we ever do that? I know there have been so many miracles in my life and somehow I still lack faith at times. I have seen Him provide for the adoption of both girls and then panic about not having enough money to buy groceries. Really? So, am I any better than those in the Bible? No.
And isn’t that why He came? Isn’t that why He walked this earth in human flesh because we need a Savior? He came to earth simply out of love for you and me. He loves us. He took our sin with Him to the cross and died. But the story doesn’t end there! He didn’t just die. No, He conquered death and sin. He rose from the dead and in so doing defeated death and sin! That makes me want to shout, “Praise the Lord!”
Jesus loves you.
