Palm Sunday is one of those Sundays of the Christian year we know best. Little children hear the story and might get to wave palm branches and imagine themselves welcoming Jesus into the holy city. Even adults like to picture themselves in the scene as Jesus rode the donkey down the hill and the crowd shouted,
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38)
We’d like to think that, had we been there, we would’ve taken off our coats, as well, and spread them out on the road for the King to ride over as he made His triumphal entry.
Of course, even as we cheer Him on, we know where this is going: In less than a week, an angry mob will cry out to Pontius Pilate, “Crucify! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:21) But then, that doesn’t have anything to do with us. Or does it?
Commentators like to make a distinction between the crowd that welcomed Jesus on Palm Sunday and the crowd that called for him to be crucified on Good Friday. In other words, we’re talking about two groups – Jesus’ faithful followers, who had come with him from Galilee; and his archenemies, led by the temple leaders and joined by those in town for Passover, who could easily be swayed by charges of heresy – the fickle friends.
That’s what I’d like for you to think – are you a faithful follower or a fickle friend. Before you answer too quickly, realize that each of us has the capacity to be true to the teachings of Jesus Christ – and the capacity to speak and act as if we’d never heard of Him before.
Fred Rogers used to ask the children on Mister Roger’s Neighborhood: “Have you ever noticed how the very same people who are good sometimes are the very same people who are bad sometimes?”
We’re a curious blend of saint and sinner, and there’s no getting around it. We’re created in the image of God, yet forever marked by the stain of sin. The bad news is we can never measure up to the righteousness of God. The Good News is we can choose to be more God-like and, by God’s grace, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
Faithful follower or fickle friend? As you make daily choices, I hope you will continue to give praise to Jesus and follow Him faithfully. Remember our motto at Faith Baptist – Follow and lead others to follow Christ.