Behind the Hosannas (2)

Owsannanyrov Ydin

Mark 11:1-11

We are looking at different passages in the Gospels where Jesus wept or was “greatly troubled”. We will journey with Jesus and see how he dealt in different situations.

John 11:33-38

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked.
      "Come and see, Lord," they replied.

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb.”

We find Jesus deeply moved, troubled, in tears and deep sorrow. I think he was full of sorrow because he loved these people. Death is separation. He loved his friend Lazarus. He loved Martha and Marry. When he saw them weeping he wept with them. As Paul mentioned in Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” He feels with us in our pains. He mourns with us. He also rejoices with us. He loves us and has deep compassion towards us.

-Do we mourn and rejoice with Jesus and with our community?

John 12:27-28

"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!"

Jesus is facing the cross. I call this the agony of the cross. He is carrying the weight and the burden of his death, the death on the cross. I see Jesus struggling, yet he finds the answers for himself that he came for this reason, for this hour. He gives up to His Father’s will. He says, “Father, let my crucifixion be for your glory.”

This indicates both the humanity and divine part of Jesus Christ. He is struggling yet he is surrendering to his Father.

The crowd heard this and said:

“We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'? (34)

Jesus answered: “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.”

Although Jesus “heart is troubled” by looking towards the cross, I believe he is also troubled when we choose darkness instead of light. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:4,5)

-Do we choose light or darkness?

John 13:21

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."

Again we see Jesus was troubled and in deep sorrow. How sad is to see one of the twelve, one of his own betray him. These are the ones who are prepared to continue His work. I think Jesus was weeping from the inside, not just for Judah’s betrayal, but also for not repenting, and ending his life surrendered to the evil.

-Do we betray Jesus in our lives?

Luke 19:41-44

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes…They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." (They did not know the time of your visitation.) (ESV)

Jesus weeps on his people Israel. Israel was called to be light to the nations. They were called to spread the TRUTH to the nations. Jerusalem was the center. They missed God’s visitation. What a sorrow when you miss the most important appointment in your life, the visit of God in your life. There is a judgment on this city. There is a judgment on our lost lives. No stone will be left on another. All the towers and temples will be destroyed. Jesus weeps with us when we reject God’s visit in our lives.

-Did you miss God’s visit in your life?

Mark 14:32-34

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."

We know that the disciples did not stay awake. They slept and they left Jesus alone. Although his main distress was looking towards the cross, yet he knew how fragile was the faith of the disciples. He knew that they, even Peter, would scatter and be afraid.

-Are we awake and praying with Jesus and in the name of our Lord Jesus?

Luke 22:55-62

“Peter replied, ‘Man, I don't know what you're talking about!’ Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Jesus turned and looked at Peter. What kind of look was this?

I don’t think it was a look of judgment, “I told you so”. It was a look of tears mixed with compassion. It was a look of encouragement that there is hope if we repent. It was not a look of condemnation, although Peter felt that way. I see Jesus was looking with pain to the fragility is our faith. He gives us new chance to start all over again.

-Do we deny Jesus?

Here is the Good News; Jesus gives a new chance to us every day. Do not postpone your response.

The choice is with you. Do we continue causing Jesus to weep?

Jesus weeps when we keep hearing his voice and rejecting it. We think we are worshiping him, shouting Hosanna, yet our lives do not indicate that we are truly worshiping him: Worshiping in Spirit and Truth.

Let us go and prepared for Maundy-Thursday dinner. Let us bring our sins to him and nailed them on the cross. Let us ask the questions that I asked today, and ask Jesus to reign in our lives.

Amen