The After Party

By: Carole L. Haines 

“Now the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”  
(Matthew 21:9) 

The scene must have been remarkable to behold. Crowds before him and behind, palms waving as far as the eye could see. Jesus, seated on a donkey. Perhaps the disciples were leading the animal, and some following behind, like His own personal entourage of body guards. But all would soon change, and Jesus knew it. Jesus put no stock in the favor of the crowds because he knew the fickle hearts of humankind. (John 2:24) 

“They took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!” 
(John 12:13) 

The religious leaders were so jealous, so indignant at the sight of all these people proclaiming Jesus with shouts of Hosanna! (Matthew 21:15) They would eventually stir this same crowd up into a murderous mob crying out for Jesus to be crucified and Barabbas to be set free. The power of a mob mentality has been witnessed in our political atmosphere in the not-so-distant past, it is a highly dangerous thing. Certainly not something any of us want to be caught up in. But here was our Dearest King Jesus, seemingly carried away in a mob slaying.  But nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus declared all this, before any of this took place. 

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep... ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. ¹⁸ No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.” (John 10:11,14-15,17-18) 

The week following The Triumphal Entry (or Palm Sunday), was certainly one heck of an after party. I am signed up to follow along with a “Walk with Jesus,” event during this week. Every time there is an event that happened during Jesus final days, I get a text declaring it, so I can follow in the footsteps of my Savior this Holy week. It is a wonderful meditation tool. He has entered Jerusalem triumphantly, cursed a fig tree, cleared the temple of money changers, etc.  
Jesus never gave a thought to what humankind thought of Him, and we must not either. I was a slave to the approval others for more than half my life. Having my mind retrained, transformed and set free from this malady has been one of God’s greatest victories
and I am so grateful.

Whew!!! Jesus had quite the earthly After Party, ending in His torture, death, burial, and resurrection.  O, what a Savior! Thank You Dearest King Jesus, we praise You and rejoice that the real After Party still awaits, The Wedding Feast of the Lamb as described in the Book of Revelation. We Await Your Return, mighty King.