Answers

By   •   March 21, 2013   •   Topics:

Q:

Do you think Jesus realized that people were going to turn against Him at the end of His life? I don't see why He would, especially after crowds welcomed Him when He rode into Jerusalem and wanted to make Him their king. Maybe He should've let them do it.


A:

Tomorrow, Christians throughout the world will celebrate what is usually called “Palm Sunday,” commemorating the day when Jesus rode a donkey into the city of Jerusalem, and was greeted by great throngs of people waving palm branches and shouting their praises: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9).

But Jesus knew their praises would not last, and that only a few days later even some who welcomed Him on Palm Sunday would turn against Him and join another crowd demanding His death. Shortly before going to Jerusalem for the last time, He told His disciples that He would be handed over to the Roman authorities, who would torture and kill Him (see Luke 18:32).

Why, then, did Jesus continue on His journey? Why did He deliberately put Himself in harm’s way? The reason is because He knew that God had sent Him into the world for one reason: to become the final and complete sacrifice for our sins. He knew there was only one way for us to be cleansed of our sins, and that was for the sinless Son of God to pay the penalty for us.

Don’t take lightly what Jesus did for you by His death and resurrection. He did it because He loves you and wants you to spend eternity with Him in heaven. Have you responded to His love by opening your heart and life to Him?