Closer Day By Day

Do you recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem, surrounded by a mob of people waving palm branches and shouting ‘Hosanna in the highest’? (Mt 21: 8-9; Mark 11:8-10; John 12:13)

Jesus’ popularity at that moment was due in part to the many miracles and healings He performed - especially that of Lazarus’ resurrection. When word spread of His powers and teachings, many were amazed and believed.

At the same time however, the chief priests and the Pharisees’ murmurings against Jesus grew louder. They were unhappy and greatly unsettled that this young man from a small town began teaching in the temple, performing miracles and claimed Himself to be the son of God. As more people followed Jesus to hear His teachings, the Pharisees and chief priests felt increasingly threatened and expressed their displeasure.

A quick turn of events follow and Jesus went from being praised by the people to becoming their object of condemnation.

Bible Passage:  John 19-21

Let’s ponder over the reactions of the masses, the chief priests and the Pharisees.

Reaction of the Masses

Pilate himself was reluctant to crucify Jesus like a criminal as he could find no legal grounds for capital punishment for Him. He mentioned this to the people not once but thrice in hope of freeing Jesus but the crowd of people no longer thought and behaved judiciously. They were given to ‘herd instinct’ or ‘mob instinct’ where the voices of the few more persuasive and stronger leaders would rally the masses together, leading the individuals in the group to act together in concurrence without a planned direction.

Standing Up and Stepping Up Our Efforts

It is always comfortable to be part of a group of people with similar behaviour and thoughts. There is comfort in conformity, it takes a lot more effort and courage to stand out and stand up for our beliefs and what we know to be the truth.

This week is our evangelical week where we get the chance to stand up and stride forth telling others about a very special someone who occupies a huge portion of our lives. On Thursday, we will at our schools or workplaces or our homes, speak up and let the words of God touch our friends and loved ones’ hearts.

How about stepping forward bravely? We can talk about how we first believed, share our testimonies, give a basic beliefs tract, ask our friends what they do in the weekends, then share how we spend Sabbath, forward a Manna article to friends, add some words of encouragement, ask for comments in turn, publish a Bible verse on our FB wall, append website http://www.tjc.org to our signature in our email etc. The possibilities are many. And God will make a way for us. We have to do the walking though.

Reaction of the Chief Priests and Pharisees

If the focal point of the beliefs and religious practices of the Pharisees and the chief priests had been God and not themselves, then logically speaking, there should not have been any cases of displeasure or jealousy directed towards Jesus if Jesus were speaking the truth.

It is because they were themselves hungry for the people’s allegiance and approval that they were caught in the power struggle.

In his book ‘Mere Christianity’, C. S. Lewis wrote of Jesus, “Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.”

Being religious leaders, they should have had been quicker and more sensitive than the masses in discerning the truth of Jesus’ teachings. They should have recognise right away that their Messiah was in their midst instead of dismissing Him as a madman claiming to be the Son of God and blaspheming His name.

Lastly I would like to share this song to remind ourselves that no matter how quick events or people may change, sometimes not for the better, we shall always build our trusts in the Someone whose love for us never changes and never wavers. Enjoy!

In Christ Alone

Lyrics by Stuart Townsend and Keith Getty

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand