“Faces in the Crowd”
April 1, 2012
Matthew 21:1-9
“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Parades are great! In Mount Shasta, probably the high point in the community is our Fourth of July celebration. Our little community swells by 10,000 people or more. Many of them come because of our Fun Run that we have before the parade, but nearly everyone lines the streets to watch the parade. Later, after a day of barbecues and celebrations in varies ways, most wind their way down to the lake to end the day by watching fireworks.
Julie and I always find a spot to watch the parade – mostly because we have so many friends in it. The last few years our granddaughters, Chey and Cassidy rode their horses in it – all decked out in patriotic colors. Often as we push our way through the crowds we will run into old friends. We have to stop and share in the excitement and get caught up on what they have been doing. It’s a fun time. Parades are wonderful!
Can you imagine Jesus on Palm Sunday? The town was teeming with people from all over the world that had come to the holy city to celebrate Passover. All the passionate and dedicated Jews would have been there. Like Mount Shasta on the forth of July, Jerusalem was inundated with visitors. As Jesus slowly rode down the hill into Jerusalem, there were people from all over the world who had come to celebrate God deliverance of the Jews from Egypt. It represented to them freedom from slavery and God’s special love for them, and the promise of future blessings.
There must have been thousands to share in the Passover celebration. And now – they were sharing in the coronation of their King. Only a king comes in the manner in which Jesus did. And Jesus let Himself be received in this way as King. The people shouted “Hosanna! Hosanna!” Hosanna is a Hebrew world translated as “Saves”. The people were recognizing Jesus as their Savior. They were recognizing Him as their king. They were recognizing Him as the Messiah – the Son of David. What a glorious time of celebration it must have been!
I imagine, as Jesus’ eyes swept over the crowd, that many were strangers; at least, He was a stranger to them. I’m sure He had the ability to know each one’s heart – but many of them had never seen Him before. But some He did know. Some He knew very well. Some had received His touch and were never the same again. I want to take a little closer look at four faces in the crowd that Jesus saw on Palm Sunday. Maybe we can see some of ourselves in them.
The first familiar face Jesus saw was Mary Magdalene. Do you remember her? In Luke 8 we learn that Mary Magdalene was one of a group of women in the Galilee area who financially provided for Jesus and His disciples. We also read that in the past, Jesus had freed her from seven demons. Early Church history identifies her as the sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair in Simon the Pharisee’s home. It says she was a prostitute with seven demons that Jesus cast out – and she was literally eternally grateful. Scriptures says she, not only helped Jesus financially, but she was the first one to see Him alive after the Resurrection.
Mary is a fascinating person. Some people claim she wrote a Gospel – the Gospel according to Mary Magdalene. I find that pretty ridiculous myself. First of all, they claim to have found it only a little over a hundred years ago. It was never mentioned by any of the early Church leaders or even discussed when they were putting together the cannon of Scripture. Secondly, Mary was probably illiterate. Most women of her day were. If she was a prostitute she was probably one because that was her only way to earn a living. She wouldn’t have had to do that if she could read and write. In Jesus’ day a women was no higher than a dog or a gentile in the eyes of society. So the chances of her being the author of a gospel, in my mind, are zero.
But she was an example of a life changed by Jesus. She was an example of what the touch of Jesus could do. From a sinner to a saint; from a child of hell to a child of heaven; from totally depraved to totally devote. Mary is a remarkable example of what God can do in a life. So many people preach a cheap gospel and a cheap grace with no repentance and no change. What a false doctrine! Jesus changes lives! We are not the same when Jesus truly comes into our hearts. Like Mary, we will be full of gratitude. We will want to become the person Jesus wants us to be. Mary, I believe, was thrilled to have a part in Jesus’ ministry and mission. Mary was thrilled to use her money to support Jesus’ ministry. When Jesus was praised – I believe she was one of the best worshippers. When Jesus was crucified, she was one of the ones that was most crushed. She was there at the foot of the cross. She, while it was still dark, went into the graveyard to mourn for Jesus. Her love cast out all fear – both of soldiers and of cemeteries. Love changes a person.
Has Jesus changed your life? Is He still changing you? He does IF we allow Him too. Does your love for Him affect your pocket book? Does it give you a holy boldness? Is it changing you from a sinner into a saint? Are you allowing Jesus to change you into something more and more like Him? Mary Magdalene was a face in the crowd – but she was so much more. And you are more than a face in the crowd. You, too, are greatly love by the King.
Another face in the crowd was Nicodemus. Remember Him. He came to Jesus at night to talk to Jesus. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. He is the one Jesus spoke John 3:16 to. He is the one Jesus was speaking to when He said ‘you must be born again.’ The Scripture records Nicodemus three times; once was here, another time was when Jesus was being tried in that kangaroo court (he pointed out it was unlawful) and the third time was when he helped Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus’ body for burial.
I think Jesus smiled when He saw Nicodemus. I think He loved Nicodemus. Nicodemus didn’t have Mary’s courage – but I think he WAS born again. He tried to defend Jesus. He provided the expensive spices and things necessary to bury Jesus. He and Joseph, lovingly and gently, washed Jesus and wrapped the perfumed spice and linen around His body. I’m sure that he knew beyond a shadow of doubt that Jesus was dead. What a life changing thing the resurrection of Jesus must have been to him! What JOY must have flooded his soul? But here in the crowd I imagine he was keeping it kind of cool. He was, after all, a Pharisee. He was, after all, an important political figure. Nevertheless, I have no doubt he was in that crowd giving Jesus praise.
Are you giving Jesus praise? At home, in the workplace, among unbelievers – are you standing up for Jesus? Are you, like Nicodemus, working behind the scenes supporting Jesus sacrificially? Even if no one sees; no one knows; we need to be doing His work.
Another face in the crowd was Zacchaeus. Remember him? He lived in Jericho. He was an important wealthy person in town. We remember him as being short. But he was a chief tax collector and had a lot of money. Usually when you are short you make extra effort to be dignified. But he was so excited that Jesus had come to town that he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up into a tree to see Him. And Jesus, when he saw him, called him down and invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ home for dinner. Zacchaeus didn’t know it – but he had a divine appointment with the Savior.
I wonder what they talked about. Whatever it was, it changed Zacchaeus’ life. The Bible says,
“Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:8-10
Do you see how Jesus changes a life? And being short, I imagine Zach had to go through a lot of teasing growing up. I imagine his wealth and position were pretty important to him. But Jesus was MORE important. He was giving up everything; he was sacrificing it all; he was putting his total trust in Jesus. Notice that it was only after Zacchaeus opened his purse strings that Jesus proclaimed salvation had come. Jesus has to be Lord of all – or He isn’t Lord at all. Jesus needs to be first in our heart - or He really isn’t in our heart.
How about you? Are you like Zacchaeus? Is money greatly important to whom you are? Is the love of wealth preventing you from blessings from God? Put your trust in Him. Depend on the Master – not money. Money is a tool. It’s kind of like guns. Guns don’t kill people. People kill people. Guns or money in the hands of an evil man is potential for great harm. Guns or money in a good person will be used for good. Use whatever you have for good.
There’s one more face in the crowd I see! He’s kind of hard to see. Just a little guy – and look at that! He’s the only one carrying lunch. He must have a loving mom to make sure he won’t go hungry. Remember him? Let hear it again.
“As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.”
Matthew 14:15-20
In John’s account of this story he says Andrew was the one who brought the little boy and his lunch to Jesus. I love this story. It’s a story, not only of God’s power, but of God’s love. It is not only about a little boy with a lunch – but it is about a little boy who trusted. The little boy trusted Jesus to provide him with lunch. He gave it ALL to Jesus. That’s huge! It is huge that Jesus can take just a little and multiply it into something overwhelming.
But there is a key to His blessing. Did you get it? Andrew says, “We only have five loaves and two fish.” There was a lot of doubt in that statement. But Jesus says, “Bring them here to me.”
Don’t you think He could have magically brought them to Himself? Maybe at least He could have walked over and got them Himself. But the key- is that act of faith of bringing something to Jesus.
What is it that you need to bring to Jesus? What little act of faith is Jesus asking of you? It might be your finances. He might be your health. It may be your unsaved loved ones. But there is a miracle out there with your name on it. Trust God. Trust Jesus. He loves you. He will come through for you.
Faces in a crowd – how many there are! But each one is someone special to Jesus. Each one has a story. Each one is loved and cherished by the Savior. You are a face in the crowd, too. To people, you may be a blur; nothing special; nothing important; not much value. But to Jesus you have a name. To Jesus you have a future. To Jesus you are a work in process. Why not bring the little you have – the little you are – and give it to Jesus.
Jesus,
Thank you or loving me. Thank you that you don’t consider me just another face in the crowd. Thank you for knowing me as I am and still loving me.
Please forgive me for not having the faith in you I should have. Forgive me for not trusting you. Right now I give my self to you. Completely, wholly, with no reservation – I give my all right now.
Help me, Lord, to trust you and walk with you from this day on.
“As the Deer”
