…..a very large crown spread their garments, cloaks and palm branches on the road. The crowds went ahead of him and those followed and shouted Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven. Matthew 21:8-9
….. and Pilate asked, what shall I do with Jesus, the one who is called Messiah? They all answered, “crucify Him”. Why? What crime was committed, asked Pilate? But they shouted louder, “crucify Him”. Matthew 27:22
Praise is defined as express of warm approval or admiration; to glorify or worship
Persecution is defined as hostility or ill treatment; annoyance or harassment; punish
How quickly we show love today, and spew hate tomorrow! I’m sure Jesus asked the question, how can the one whom loved me yesterday, hates me today. How is it the ones who swore loyalty to me yesterday, betrayed me with a kiss today. Jesus suffered at the hands of friends, confidants, and allies. The story of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection reminds us that we are not exempt or excluded from this same cycle just because we are Christians. This reminds us that even at the pinnacle of our lives, or even in the valley of despair, the same one that praise you today, can certainly crucify you tomorrow. This reminds us of the temperament of people and how fickle people can be. However, God reminds us that there is always righteousness for the persecuted. We should never use the praise of people to feed our souls.
Matthew 5:10 states, “blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:10 states, “this is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Timothy 3:12 states, “in fact everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Matthew 5:44, “but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you.
This tells me, praise comes with a price. Therefore, your connection with Christ is imperative to living a righteous godly life in Him. We should not love as the world love, or live as the world live, but we are to live and love as Christ lives and loves. God reminds us not to hate but to pray for those that persecutes us. Psalm 34:19 tells us that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord deliver him out of all of them”. In the mist of despair, Christ held his posture, asking the Father to forgive them for they know not what they do. As we commemorate this Holy Week, the Resurrection of the Risen Savior, may you know through praise and persecution, Christ held is posture for you. He remained fixated with His eye on the will of the Father. I’m sure that in all His glory He could have saved himself from the cross. But He held his posture on the cross for you and I until it was finished. One thing for sure, with praise, there is sure to come persecution. Your persecution may not be a cross to bear, or nails driven through your hand and your feet, but it may be ill words said about you, it may be someone scandalizing your name; but know this, Christ guarantees deliverance and redemption for you through His blood. As you commemorate this Holy Week, remember that is no persecution that the blood can’t cover!
Happy Holy Week,
Blessings Flow