Crowded

 

There were many crowds that followed Jesus during His ministry. Jesus did so many miracles, preached to so many, and had many followers. The crowd gravitated towards Jesus, and it didn’t matter where He was or how far He had to travel. When Jesus was preaching in the temple at a young age, there was a crowd. When He got baptized, there was a crowd. When a group of friends lowered their friend in front of Jesus, there was a crowd. When He saved the woman from being stoned, there was a crowd. When He healed the woman with the issue of blood, there was a crowd. When he rose up Lazarus, there was a crowd. He fed the five thousand, not including women and children…what a crowd! I could go on, but during Jesus’ ministry, you rarely read about Jesus not having crowds around Him.

The “great crowd” that was in Jerusalem before the Passover took palm branches on their way to meet Jesus. (John 12: 12-19). The crowd was shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kind of Israel!” Yet, that same crowd was questioning Him later when Jesus predicted His death. They went from asking Him to “save” them to questioning His voice. How many times have we praised God but later, question His Word? It’s still amazing to me that Jesus knew that the crowd would go from shouting “Hosanna!” to shouting, “crucify Him!” Yet, He still came and chose to die for us.  

The whipping He took, the mocking, the slapping, the spitting, the insolence, and the crowns of thorns on His head were all for the crowd…for us…for you. He endured the nails in his hands and the nails in his feet…for you…for us. He took all our sins, our punishment, and judgment upon Him. He did it for all of us. The Bible says Jesus endured all of this because “He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.” (Hebrews 12:2 The Voice). What is “the joy that was set before Him”? The joy of coming to do the will of the Father (John 6:38, John 12: 27-30). The joy of saying “It is finished” (John 19:30).

If you were living back then, what part would you have played in the crowd? Would you have been the leader of the crowd, part of the crowd (actively participating), feel lost in the crowd (you’re just following and not knowing what is really going on), or an observer of the crowd (people watching)? No matter the stance of the crowd, Jesus came for all of us. How about if you were one of His disciples? Would you have fled and gone into hiding, followed close by, or be at the foot of the cross? Would you have betrayed Him, denied knowing Him, or doubted He was alive? Consider your heart towards Jesus. Will you accept Him?

Scripture reference: Matthew 27:11-end of chapter


Warm Wishes,

Carline


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