Fickle Followers

We humans are fickle folks. One minute we are all in favor of something and the next minute we loathe it. One minute we sing the praises of someone and when they do something we don't like, we join the cacophony of criticism against them. One day we are committed to the death for a cause and the next day, even the most effective of motivators is unable to get us to move out in support. Such is the human existence.


This glitch in our get-along that we call fickleness was never more evident than during the last week of Jesus' human life. On Sunday, he rode into town on the back of a hi-jacked donkey serenaded by the praises of an expectant and adoring following.

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" – John 12:12-13

The celebration was similar to what we would experience in a victory parade if our favorite sports team won a championship. The mood was festive and the praise was loud. Everyone who participated anticipated that Jesus would soon fulfill their wildest dreams and run the repressive Roman regime out of town.


By Friday, the mood had changed. The ruckus was still loud, but the mood had turned from festive to foul. Many of those same voices that shouted, "Hosanna!" now vociferously demanded, "Crucify Him!" Their wildest dreams dashed, they now created a nightmarish scene, demanding the death of the One they recently praised. They proved to be a quite fickle bunch.


As do we. Sunday after Sunday, many of us sing praises to our Savior, declaring our love for Him and renewing our commitment to Him and His Kingdom. Then for some, by the end of the week, we live as though He doesn't even exist. We may not vocally call for His crucifixion, but we engage in those very same sins from which He died to deliver us. With each sin, we relive the need for the cross.
The cross and resurrection of Christ call us to a different life. Disciples of Jesus recognize the price He paid that we could bear that title. We recognize how precious the blood of Jesus was, and His death compels us live the life of the redeemed.


This Easter, let us return to the victory parade. Let us join the chorus of praise declaring that Jesus is Lord. Then with an even louder voice than can be mustered with our mouths, let our daily conduct declare clearly and boldly that we are children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Indeed, blessed is HE who comes in the name of the Lord!