Of course, like things normally go as I'm sitting in church, when I have these random thoughts and questions, something about the sermon will help to answer it. These people who are celebrating Jesus' return to Jerusalem were wanting a king to come in and save them from Roman rule. That is the king they were hailing as he came into the city. But Jesus didn't come for that purpose. His purpose was greater than anyone at the time could have ever comprehended. He didn't come to save them from the oppression of the Romans. He came to save them from the oppression of sin. They were probably thinking Jesus would come in, say a few words and the Romans would be destroyed and the Jews would finally be free. Instead, the man they were hoping would deliver them does nothing when he's arrested and beaten. He takes the beating and just listens as they shout for His death. Someone even challenged Him to save himself as He was hanging on the cross and He didn't. He knew what He had to do in order to save us all, and He finished that task.
So I think the reason the people were cheering for Him one moment and shouting for His death the next is because they wanted something small when Jesus came to complete something greater.
I'm so glad I live in today's world where I can look back and see how God's plan was working rather than being one of the people with certain expectations of what the Messiah would be and then being disappointed.
Of course, it could also be said that too often I think I know how God is going to do something and get disappointed when He doesn't. I should instead try to wait patiently and see what He's going to do instead that's going to serve a greater purpose in my life and the lives of those around me.
How about you? Do you have specific examples of how your expectations of the actions of God haven't panned out, but in the end were better and more glorifying to God? Or do you have your own thoughts about Palm Sunday, perhaps something YOUR pastor preached about this Sunday. Leave a comment below and tell me about it!
I like it. Goes back to the fact that the necessary outweighs the immediate. Something I have had to remind myself of several times recently as I have had some tragedy. And especially with my momma. But I have to remember that my expectations may not be God's ultimate plan. Our felt need usually isn't pur deepest need. I think a good example of this is Mark 2 (in case you want something else to look at). Good thinking. I like the thoughts/the preaching material.
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