The roar of the crowd, the excitement and thrill of the moment. “The King is Coming! The King is Coming!” The shouts rang out. The Pharisees scolded Jesus and said, “Make this stop,” and he replied, “If I tell them to stop, these very stones will cry out.”
What had just happened? Could it be the Messiah? But he came in on a donkey, humble like King Solomon, not like King David on a white horse. What did all of this mean? Jesus spoke as one with authority, did signs and wonders, miracles and healings like none that had ever come before him. His popularity was climbing by the minute.
The disciples were right there in the midst of the chaos, the hype, the joy, the anxiety, the fear, the trepidation. They knew that all of their lives were on the line by going back into the Holy City. How does one prepare for the unknown? There was no way to prepare for what was to happen. Jesus spent the whole week trying to get through to them, he told them plainly what was to happen. They didn’t get it. Or did they and they just desperately did not want to hear it, and spent those precious few moments in denial and hope for another way?
They spent the night of Pesach eating and drinking, singing psalms and reflecting on the night’s festivities, tucking in their hearts that Jesus the Messiah washed their feet. He broke bread and ushered in a new covenant that they were not fully grasping. They were human, the spirt was willing but the flesh weak. All they had to do was stay awake and they couldn’t. Like the olives that are pressed three times until no more oil is left, Jesus went and prayed 3 times until it says his sweat was like blood. He had poured out all he had.
The frenzy, the chaos as the disciples were startled by the dim light of torches. The shouts and shadows of soldiers winding their way up that steep road where days earlier Jesus had just traveled on the back of a donkey. The chaos continued with a corrupt circus trial bent on a guilty verdict. His disciples scattered, scared and doing whatever it took to stay hidden and alive.
All of this led up to the unthinkable. The brutality, the inhumane torture, the public display of humiliation. All while the same crowd that had yelled “Hosanna!” now shouted “Crucify Him!” or watched in silent horror. As Yeshua hung on a cross in public display at the top of the hill, he endured the pain and agony of not just the physical but the overwhelming spiritual weight of sin. From the beginning of time until his coming again, all sin from all the ages rested on his shoulders. This King, this Son of God, hung on the cross with a crown of thorns for six hours until all His blood was out. When the Temple High Priest sacrificed the last lamb, he raised his arms and declared, “It is Finished.” And the shofar blew. On that hill, Jesus hearing the sound of the final shofar with arms outstretched said, “It is finished.” And died.
This was not in the disciple’s plan, what had just happened? They gave up their lives to follow this man,who they were just sure was the Messiah, the Son of God. Now what? What would they do? What would they tell their families and friends? How could they have been so sure and yet were they wrong?
As Christians we know that the story does NOT end with Jesus still hung on the cross. In fact, it does not end when he was laid in the tomb and the large hard stone rolled in front. Where was the Joy? Where was the Hope? Where was the answer to their questions? The Morning of First Fruits.
Early in the Morning, Mary and others went to the tomb to put spices on Yeshua’s body, but the most phenomenal thing had happened! The big, heavy, cold stone was rolled away. Soldiers were lying like dead men on the ground and angels were there to Tell the Good News! “Christ is not here! He has risen just like he said!” Jesus, Yeshua is the First Fruits. Because of his death and resurrection, the final atonement was made for all and because he is consecrated, we too are all consecrated in and through Him. It is in our Risen Savior that a New Covenant is established. It is through him that our Joy is Restored. Our Hope is made New and Our Salvation belongs to Him.
If you are finding yourself in a time of chaos, or overwhelming circumstances, or maybe you have blended into the crowd and lost your voice. If you are feeling hopeless and searching for answers, know that you are not alone. Christ left his throne in glory to become man so we could relate to him. He felt joy, sadness, pain, heartache, weariness, love, companionship and even shed tears like you and I. Yet the enemy did not win, Jesus conquered the grave, sin and death and he did it all for YOU! He made a way to cross the great divide to the Father. He became that bridge, he became the atonement for each of our sins. And he became the salvation for all who will accept the free gift. Jesus said “I am the door…I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
If you have not accepted his free gift, I encourage you to do so and do it today. We are never guaranteed a tomorrow. And if you have, go tell your family and friends. The only thing you can take from this world to heaven is another person.
Happy Resurrection Day & First Fruits!
Shalom
Pastor Penny
