Skip to main content

Hosanna ... or ... Crucify Him ??? ((monday morning blog))


At AGF's (www.agfnh.net) Sunday Celebration we talked about the cross, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the palms, the resurrection. When I speak of these things, the images of being at church with palm branches flash in my mind. I remember as a kid getting a palm branch and bringing it home watching it turn from green to brown in a matter of weeks. The ritual of giving palm branches continued on in my life even when I led churches as their pastor years later.

This year was a bit different. My dear wife created a large vine wreath with decorations and laid it on the counter placing 3 candles inside (2 purple either side of a white one) with red, white and puple ribbons streaming down the front. And ... she placed on it's left side a single palm branch. I was able to use it as an illustration during my morning talk. The cries of the Jews saying "Hosanna" and placing the palms on the road as the King rode the donkey into the city were a picture of worship to the nation Israel's Redeemer. Unfortunately, the Hebrews witnessed a seizing of their potential king-deliever and that did not sit well with them. A disappointed nation then turned their backs on the One whom they felt turned his back on them. So their reaction when Pilate gave them the choice to release or crucify Jesus was ... "Crucify Him!". Were they wrong in their decision? Were they misled in choosing Barabus over Jesus? Were they finally aligned with their Jewish leadership who actually spearheaded Jesus' capture and conviction? The flip from Hosanna to Crucify Him was a history maker. It's also a challenge for us who claim to love and follow Jesus.

It is with ease we say, "I love You, Lord" or "Jesus is mine". It is a serious thing not flippant ones when these comments are made by Christ-Followers. Just this morning I read a comment by a good friend of mine. We attended Bible scholl together in the 70s in upstate NY. Later, he and his wife were on staff at an organization where my wife served for 10 years. He made this statement on his facebook page: "REMEMBER, CHRISTIANITY AS WE KNOW IT IS NOT JESUS' FAULT!" (he goes by Pastor Dos if you want to seek him out). Essentially, what he is saying is that the current 'Christian Community' is shouting "Hosanna" with their mouths but "Crucify Him" with their lives.

I was reminded the other day that I am not perfect (I won't tell you by who) and they are right! But imperfection is not license to discredit Jesus. There are opportunities daily to 'die to self' and live 'resurrected' lives that glorify the person and work of Jesus. Some call this week "Holy Week". For the Christ-Follower, 'holiness' is essential to maintain a "Hosanna" Life and destroy the "Crucify Him" Walk!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On Hold - The Finale

Today is July 20th. August is upon us and so is the 6th month of unemployment. Correct. After many applications and about 6-7 interviews I am still without work. I was interviewed twice (two different companies) in person this week and I'm waiting on their call back. Both indicated there must be a second interview with others involved. The last offering (Part 2) eluded to a humbling lesson learned. When I walked out of my last job on February 7th I made a to-myself-statement. Essentially I said I'll never work for this company again. But that was before my first humble pie piece I had to eat. So I put in applications with the company's other stores close by. Also I used a second email address so I wouldn't be tied to the store I worked at. I must have been hungry because I began to eat another piece of that pie. I finally reapplied at the store I exited 5 months earlier and yes, used my regular email address to do so. The first part of On Hold revealed my money from my ...
Post a Comment
Read more

MMB Monday Morning Blog 8-26-24 Seasons

There are four season in the year. In Florida, where I currently live, the season are here too but not like in New Hampshire where I'm from. Florida has HEAT. I remember visiting my parents back in the 90s at their winter home in Wachula around Thanksgiving. We already had snow before our drive south. As we hit Virginia and North Carolina it was apparent we were no longer in the frozen tundra. My parent's mobile home had two bedrooms. It wasn't big enough for us and our two sons. They did, however, have a pop-up trailer under the carport, so it was fine. To stay in a pop-up in Northern New England in late November mas near impossible. You would begin to shiver in about 5 minutes. Nights would reach a low of 0°-20°F. But not so in Florida. After a great Thanksgiving feast we went shopping at the local Walmart. They no longer stay open on Thanksgiving. As I walked into the store I was hit with culture shock. The store was in festive colors and lighting for Christmas but one t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Revelation - A Bible Book Often Avoided

MMB 7-1-2024 I have an app on my phone that reminds me of my daily Scripture reading so I can complete reading the Bible in one year. That completion date for me was yesterday June 30, 2024. The app I use suggests three chapters a day except for Sunday which is five chapter readings. I completed an inspiring read through the Book of Revelation yesterday. Many avoid Revelation because of its many "Sevens" that appear confusing. Seven Angels, Seven Bowls, Seven trumpets, Seven Scrolls ... they're there. Then there are descriptions of certain creatures with multiple heads and faces and horns which can shock anyone. But Revelation mostly explains the confusing terms as you read on. You can't give up. You can't fear the terminology. You can't avoid those unknowns because they are soon revealed.  I've decided to re-read the Book. I've done two years of reading through the Bible and I will take a break from that now. But I won't stop reading Scripture. I ...
Post a Comment
Read more