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•7他们把驴驹牵到耶稣那里，把自己的衣服搭在上面，耶稣就骑上。8有许多人把衣服铺在路上，也有人把田间的树枝砍下来，铺在路上。9前行后随的人都喊着说：
•“和散那（“和散那”原有求救的意思，在此乃是称颂的话）！
•奉主名来的是应当称颂的！
•10那将要来的我祖大卫之国是应当称颂的！
•高高在上，和散那！”
•11耶稣进了耶路撒冷，入了圣殿，周围看了各样物件。天色已晚，就和十二个门徒出城，往伯大尼去了。
据估计，逾越节的那一周有两百万人在耶路撒冷。这个估计是基于公元40年犹太历史上的记录，那一年有26万只羊羔被用于献祭。每家都要献祭一只羊羔。如果一个家庭的规模比较小，那么就可以邀请邻居或朋友来一同献祭这一只羊羔。如果每个这样的大“家庭”约有10个人，那么逾越节的人数就超过了200万人。在橄榄山参加欢迎耶稣的游行的人，可能有几万人甚至更多。你可以理解为什么犹太人的领袖们心生嫉妒，非常恼火。
众人喊着说:“和散那”，意思是“拯救我们!”不幸的是，这些人虽然承认耶稣是弥赛亚，甚至引用诗篇118篇来称颂耶稣，但他们实际上是在寻找一位不同的救主，能把罗马人赶出去，让他们的以色列国再次强大起来。就在那个星期五，当耶稣被捆绑在彼拉多面前受审时，他们喊着说:“钉他十字架!”为什么这么大的反差？因为耶稣没有满足他们错误的期望。但耶稣满足了我们的期望!
你看到这个故事中的反差了吗?他是万王之王，但他却以一个卑微仆人的样式前来。他没有戴黄金的冠冕。那一周他唯一要戴的冠冕是一顶荆棘冠冕。他过去没有，现在也不会用武力来统治掌管。他用他的爱、他的恩典和他的怜悯来掌管我们的心。他不需要靠着军队来征服，只需要藉着从他嘴里说出的真理的话语。他的信息是与上帝永远平安的信息，而不是暂时的和平。耶稣接受了那天对他的排山倒海般的赞美，因为他是上帝的儿子，配得上这些赞美。诗篇24:9-10:众城门哪，你们要抬起头来;永久的门户，你们要把头抬起，那荣耀的王要进来。荣耀的王是谁呢?万军之耶和华——他是荣耀的王。”
祷告:主耶稣啊，你来不是要给我们成功或能力战胜我们世上的敌人，而是要给我们救恩和罪得赦免。求你用你的爱，你的恩典，你对我们的怜悯，你救赎的工作来治理我的心，使我可以拥有世界无法给予的平安。阿们。
Mark 11: 7-12: They brought the colt to Jesus. They threw their coats over it. Then he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their coats on the road. Others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those in front and those in back shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Psalm 118:25,26) 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courtyard. He looked around at everything. But it was already late. So he went out to Bethany with the 12 disciples. (NIV)
It is estimated that there were two million people in Jerusalem the week of the Passover. That estimate is based on a record in Jewish history from 40 A.D. that two-hundred sixty thousand lambs were sacrificed that year. A lamb was sacrificed for every household. If a family was small, then neighbors or friends could be invited to share the lamb. On Maundy Thursday, Jesus’ “family” was his disciples. If you figured about ten per “family,” then there were more than two million people for the Passover. The crowd that joined the parade on the Mount of Olives numbered in the tens of thousands or more. You can understand why the jealous leaders of the Jews were upset.
The people cried out “Hosanna,” which means, “Save us!” Unfortunately, the people quoting Psalm 118 and acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah were looking for a Savior who would kick out the Romans and make their kingdom great again. Otherwise, why would they shout “Crucify him!” on Friday when he was bound before Pilate? It was because he did not live up to their false expectations. But he has lived up to ours!
Do you see the contrasts in this story? He was the King of kings, but he came as a humble servant. He wore no gold crown. The only crown he would wear that week was a crown of thorns. He did not and does not rule by force. He rules our hearts by his love, his grace, and his mercy. He did not need an army to conquer, only the word of truth that came from his lips. His message is one of peace with God, not of temporal peace. Jesus accepted the accolades that rained down on him that day, because he deserved them as the Son of God that he was. Psalm 24:9-10: Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty — he is the King of glory.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you came not to give us success or power over our enemies, but to give us salvation and the forgiveness of sins. Reign in my heart with your love, your grace, our mercy, your work of redemption, so that I may own the peace that the world cannot give. Amen.