Hosanna, Hosanna?

Matt 11 9-10
Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest

How the people of Israel hailed and exalted Jesus, when he sat on the colt, riding into the streets of Jerusalem. He was esteemed by all, as they laid their garments and palm leaves on the road to pave the entry of the Messiah.

Come three days later, and all the praise was turned into curses. The people did not welcome Jesus with kind words and a warm embrace, but with curses as they spat at Him. Mocked Him. Despised Him.

This is a damning account of the ephemerality of men's praises and emotions. On Saturday, we can praise Jesus, jump up and down, cry buckets of tears. Yet, come monday, and for all we know, profanity and expletives may fill our mouths? Hatred and strife abides in our heart, rather than love and peace?

Will we have transformed into the most un-Christ-like person we can ever imagine? To be the very person we seem to urge others not to become?

As humans, we all mess up. Peter messed up. He denied Jesus three times that very night he swore that he would not deny Christ. The issue is not whether we will mess up or not. It is a given, we will all mess up in our life. Rather it is following Jesus all the days of our lives. If we make a wrong turn, we can always turn towards Jesus again.

Jesus told Peter this, upon His resurrection.

John 21:18 Most assuredly, i say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish... Follow Me

When we were young, we make all sorts of foolish mistakes. But when we grow up, we put away our childish thinking. Allow God to carry you, even to places where you do not wish. Will you carry your cross today? Obedience is better than sacrifice.