Palm Sunday Reminds Me of How Fickle Popularity with the World Can Be

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Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of the holy week. I want to throw more dirt at the Papal superstitions associated with those so-called blessed palms and to focus on the lessons as recorded in the accounts of Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19. This is the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 which prophesied of Jesus' triumphal entry. He entered on a lowly colt instead of a grand horse. Here I reflect on the Lord Jesus and how He had entered into Jerusalem where He had a triumphal entry but this was all going to chance in a few days later. People were praising Him as the Son of David.

But here's the ugly truth about Palm Sunday. A lot of people who shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the LORD: Hosanna in the highest." would soon scream which may be on Friday (Roman time and not Jewish time), "Let Him be crucified." or "Crucify Him!" This was a huge turn of events. Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem which started out as a welcome party was turned upside down all in a few days later.

Why did they shout "Crucify Him!" in just a matter of few days? Many wanted to believe that Jesus would liberate them from the Roman rule. Instead, we can read that after the triumphal entry to Jerusalem - Jesus did a lot of stuff that wasn't politically correct. Not only did He overthrow the dirty merchants off the Jewish Temple but He also attacked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. He also told them to render unto God what was unto God and unto the Roman Emperor what was unto the king. The passover lamb was inspected for four days. Likewise, Jesus the Lamb of God was also inspected for four days. Both the passover lamb and Jesus were to be slain on the same day. 

I guess the Pharisees were expecting Jesus to condemn the Roman occupation. Sure, the Romans were not the nicest bunch. Ancient Rome was so riddled with sexual immorality I couldn't want to elaborate on such. One of the later emperors namely Nero was so depraved it shocked the world. Many incestuous marriages such as uncle to niece were permitted by such people. Jesus didn't lead the people in revolt against the Romans. Instead, He spoke against the Pharisees who may have expected Him to side with them instead. Matthew 23 records the longest account of attacking the Pharisees - which surely blew their fuse like there was no tomorrow.

Jesus came into Jerusalem instead to finally fulfill His Father's task. At the same time, it was to show that following Christ will be the long, difficult path. Jesus was antagonized by the self-righteous Pharisees. People who welcomed Him into Jerusalem now wanted Him dead. This would prove how popularity is fickle because the crowd could care less about the truth. A popular truth today can become unpopular tomorrow. Instead, it's all about abiding in Him and not with the world.

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