Sara Spohr

John 12:12-13

Tuesday, March 13

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the Passover Festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, "Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the King of Israel!" – John 12:12-13

As much as I would like to, I just can't quite imagine what it would have been like to have been in Jerusalem on that day when Jesus rode into town. A massive crowd lining the streets with their coats and palm branches, preparing the path for this much anticipated arrival. What might make this even more difficult to imagine is that this is not just a crowd of people, but a crowd of people who are emotionally charged. Emotions in public are just not that comfortable for many stoic midwesterners, including myself. Along with the shouts of Hosanna, there would have been some tears, some feelings of relief, and even that kind of laughter that comes when you're so emotionally spent all you can do is laugh. This crowd was "all in" because this was a moment that they had waited and waited for, finally their Messiah had come.

Questions for reflection:

• Can you think of a similar moment in your lifetime? Crowds of people so wholly in a moment - physically, spiritually, emotionally?
• When was the last time you felt "all in" about your faith, about your love for God, or your desire to follow Jesus?

Prayer:

Loving God, help me turn to you with my whole life, my joys, my fears, my laughter, my tears, my everything. Give me the strength and the courage to follow. Amen