It is interesting that today in the study of Matthew we happen to get to the Palm Sunday account in Matthew 21. This wasn't planned but interesting nonetheless. As I looked briefly at the passage I suddenly discovered something from verses 9 and 10
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
11 The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Wait a minute...many of us are familiar with what happened between this victorious acclamation and celebration and less than one week later when the crowds were shouting "crucify Him". What I never noticed before is that they had His identity only as they could perceive in the flesh; as verse 11 states the prophet; not the Prophet who was also the Son of God. So that's why it became so easy to betray Him. Why do I say this?
First of all; as we know from the expectations of the Apostles themselves they expected Him to bring the Kingdom to an earthly rule sooner rather than later. The Pharisees asked this starting in Luke 17:20; and the Apostles in Acts 1:7 Jesus' presence should have been something the Pharisees would look forward to. John 11:48 shows that they were worried the Romans would somehow take over and ruin their establishment if Jesus continued as He did; after Lazarus was raised from the dead around the same time period weeks before His crucifixion.
Secondly; when they realized that Jesus wasn't going to fight back or use supernatural power to come down from the cross no doubt many mocked Him or were disillusioned after His demonstrations of mass healings and deliverances for several years.
Third; tied in with the second point is that their need to have Jesus as sin bearer was something they were and still are as a nation to this day. Despite the destruction of their old temple for most of the last 2000 years there is still an attempt to build it anew. Rejecting Christ they hae had no means of even covering sin since then.
Palm Sunday is a great day to celebrate our King and Savior. The Jews heralded Him as the one "who comes in the name of the LORD" but I believe their hearts were fickle, and as you noted, they did not see their need for Him as their sin-bearer, rather desired for Him to overthrow the governing authorities that ruled them all of their lives. It seems by what Jesus said about many "christs" have come and many more will come that the people were waiting for the Messiah, but not very discerning about the qualifications of the many who came that led them to follow them for a time. Jesus was most likely one more among many that they thought would be their promised Deliverer.
Scriptures say that their eyes were blinded and their ears made deaf so that they would not recognize Whom it was Who was walking among them. They did not get it, even when He spoke with remarkable authority and did miracles that only God could do. And you are right, for 2000 years they have refused Him as the Messiah even though large numbers of Jews of the day thought He MAY be the one. The Jews over the centuries would not give Him the honor of committed hearts to Him nor would they allow that they may have been wrong about how they interpreted the OT Scriptures that spoke of Him or to take a fresh look at what they thought these meant in light of Jesus' coming and His teachings.
Like the Jews, there have been millions of Gentiles who have rejected Him as well. Even in today's world where the gospel is available to nearly all people groups and with the witness of the Church over time, so many still dig in their heels and refuse to call on God for mercy, perhaps because they do not think that they need mercy, just affirmation that they are good enough.
Such a sad state and so many are in their end is so awful, though deserved.
I always have much joy when this time of year comes-Holy Week-that brings to remembrance all that Jesus did, said, and what occurred in this last week.
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
11 The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Wait a minute...many of us are familiar with what happened between this victorious acclamation and celebration and less than one week later when the crowds were shouting "crucify Him". What I never noticed before is that they had His identity only as they could perceive in the flesh; as verse 11 states the prophet; not the Prophet who was also the Son of God. So that's why it became so easy to betray Him. Why do I say this?
First of all; as we know from the expectations of the Apostles themselves they expected Him to bring the Kingdom to an earthly rule sooner rather than later. The Pharisees asked this starting in Luke 17:20; and the Apostles in Acts 1:7 Jesus' presence should have been something the Pharisees would look forward to. John 11:48 shows that they were worried the Romans would somehow take over and ruin their establishment if Jesus continued as He did; after Lazarus was raised from the dead around the same time period weeks before His crucifixion.
Secondly; when they realized that Jesus wasn't going to fight back or use supernatural power to come down from the cross no doubt many mocked Him or were disillusioned after His demonstrations of mass healings and deliverances for several years.
Third; tied in with the second point is that their need to have Jesus as sin bearer was something they were and still are as a nation to this day. Despite the destruction of their old temple for most of the last 2000 years there is still an attempt to build it anew. Rejecting Christ they hae had no means of even covering sin since then.
Richard,
Palm Sunday is a great day to celebrate our King and Savior. The Jews heralded Him as the one "who comes in the name of the LORD" but I believe their hearts were fickle, and as you noted, they did not see their need for Him as their sin-bearer, rather desired for Him to overthrow the governing authorities that ruled them all of their lives. It seems by what Jesus said about many "christs" have come and many more will come that the people were waiting for the Messiah, but not very discerning about the qualifications of the many who came that led them to follow them for a time. Jesus was most likely one more among many that they thought would be their promised Deliverer.
Scriptures say that their eyes were blinded and their ears made deaf so that they would not recognize Whom it was Who was walking among them. They did not get it, even when He spoke with remarkable authority and did miracles that only God could do. And you are right, for 2000 years they have refused Him as the Messiah even though large numbers of Jews of the day thought He MAY be the one. The Jews over the centuries would not give Him the honor of committed hearts to Him nor would they allow that they may have been wrong about how they interpreted the OT Scriptures that spoke of Him or to take a fresh look at what they thought these meant in light of Jesus' coming and His teachings.
Like the Jews, there have been millions of Gentiles who have rejected Him as well. Even in today's world where the gospel is available to nearly all people groups and with the witness of the Church over time, so many still dig in their heels and refuse to call on God for mercy, perhaps because they do not think that they need mercy, just affirmation that they are good enough.
Such a sad state and so many are in their end is so awful, though deserved.
I always have much joy when this time of year comes-Holy Week-that brings to remembrance all that Jesus did, said, and what occurred in this last week.
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