PALM SUNDAY of the LORD’S PASSION

Gospel Bullet Points (Luke 22:14-23:56)

• Immediately, we take note that it was the same crowd in Jerusalem who shouted “Hosanna to the King” that also turned around a few days after to shout “CRUCIFY HIM!” See how people could be so MERCURIAL, UNPREDICTABLE, AND UNFAITHFUL!
• Why the sudden shift from affirmation to condemnation? It was because their material expectations were not fulfilled. They expected Jesus to be a Messiah according to their style and concept—one with military might, power, and wealth that would bring down the Roman occupation forces. But when Jesus failed to meet their immediate expectations, they turned against Him. The tension became even more intense when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, sent to be the Messiah. Even the intimate friends of Jesus abandoned Him. Judas, His most trusted aide, turned around and betrayed Him. Peter the Rock, the leader of the disciples, denied Him three times, swearing by God that he did not know Jesus. The rest of the apostles ran away and abandoned the Lord.
• The people who welcomed the Lord so enthusiastically on Sunday turned around on Friday and chose Barabbas in preference to Jesus. In short, BUMALIMBING!
• We can be loyal and faithful to God when all is going well, but when faced with trials and difficulties, we question His love and care for us, or worse, even His very existence.
• We go through the same process every day when confronted with temptation. To sin is to choose Barabbas rather than Jesus. Every sin is like choosing to crucify Jesus all over again. For whenever we sin, we are saying CRUCIFY HIM.