Following the Crowd
“And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way” (Mark 11:8).
The disciples were busy preparing for Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. They found the colt, unloosed him and brought him to Jesus as they were instructed. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem there was a large crowd on the road to meet Him. They were waving branches of palms and spreading their garments in the way. Many were singing loud Hosannas and waving Him on as King Jesus. They acknowledged Him as Blessed and coming in the name of the Lord. (Mark 11:1-10). This exciting event fulfilled the prophet Zechariah’s prophecy that Jesus would come having salvation; lowly and riding upon a colt the foal of an ass (Zechariah 9:9).
A few hours later the scene changed dramatically. With a drastic change of mood many of the same crowd were reviling Jesus and shouting “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.” Even Judas one of Jesus’ twelve disciples was plotting to betray Jesus to be crucified. How is it that our hearts can be merry for a minute and then become fierce and explosive in the next? This is testimony to God’s assessment of man’s heart as being deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).
When the crowd ceased cheering and began sneering, Jesus was forsaken and left alone to do what He was sent by His Father to accomplish. He bore His cross, was nailed to it and was crucified to bear the sins of many. Scripture teaches that this divine event, like our salvation, was ordained before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 13:8) and there was nothing that could prevent it. For when God works who can hinder it (Isaiah 43:3).
Based on what we know from the Word of God and the authority it has over our lives, which crowd are we following? As Jesus rides through the corridors of our heart, are we happily welcoming Him as the Blessed Lord that brings us salvation? Are our lives shouting Hosanna and crowning Him with unending praise? Are we waving branches of peace and spiritual well-being? Are we excited to proclaim that our souls thirst for God and we will seek Him early? (Psalm 63:1).
The crowd we follow indicates who we are. Are we aligned to the crucifying crowd, grieving the Holy Spirit, being unthankful and vain in our imaginations, changing the truth of God into a lie and worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever? (Romans 1:21-25). Are we in the scoffing crowd that disdain the truths of God’s Word and are willingly ignorant of its teachings? Are we tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men (Ephesians 4:14) and ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth? (2 Timothy 3:7). Or are we with the cloud of witnesses whose hearts are established with grace, and who have laid aside every weight, and the sin which easily beset us, and are running with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith? (Hebrews 12:1, 2).
The Passover crowd was a rough bunch. The redeemed crowd is a humble and thankful peoplewho are resting in the multitude of God’s mercies, lovingly provided, and are waiting for Jesus’ final entry when He appears in His glory. They are singing, even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20).
“And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me” (John 21:19).
Be Blessed Today. The road to Jesus is not crowded