Just a few days prior to the Jews crying out, “CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM!” “…a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!“ (Matt. 21:8-9)
A couple of days later, “…they all cried out at once, saying, “AWAY WITH THIS MAN, and release to us BARABBAS“— who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder. Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted, saying, “CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM!” Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.” But THEY WERE INSISTENT, DEMANDING with LOUD VOICES that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.” (Luke 23:18-23)
What caused this remarkable change? Jesus said the religious leaders, “…woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES! For you SHUT UP THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (Matt. 23:13), “Jesus said TO HIS DISCIPLES, “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be DELIVERED UP TO BE CRUCIFIED.” Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and PLOTTED TO TAKE JESUS BY TRICKERY AND KILL HIM.” (Matt. 26:1-4) Jesus plainly told His disciples He would be crucified, isn’t it strange that NONE OF THEM were at the tomb on Sunday?
The guards remembered, “…we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I WILL RISE.’” (Matt. 27:63) Here was the disciples response, “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them returned from the tomb (after seeing the risen Lord) and told all these things to the eleven…And THEIR WORDS SEEMED TO THEM LIKE IDLE TALES, and they DID NOT BELIEVE THEM.” (Luke 24:9-11)
DEAR LORD PLEASE OPEN OUR EYES TO SEE YOU AND OUR EARS TO HEAR YOU!
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham