jesus wept

Cody Balch - John 11:1-44 - 9.6.2015

Palm Sunday is the day in which the church remembers Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to throngs of people and their shouts of acclamation. Less than a week after this event Jesus would be unjustly arrested, mocked, whipped, beaten, and crucified. Many of the same people who excitedly chanted Hosanna, Hosanna (meaning, salvation is here) as he entered into Jerusalem would chant Crucify him, crucify him just days later. What changed? Actually, nothing. The people had a preconceived notion of who they wanted Jesus to be. When he didn’t fit this notion, they turned on him without hesitation. This sermon shows that the way in which we view Jesus – even today – determines how we act towards him. It contrasts the crowd of people who wanted to squeeze Jesus into their box with a man named Zacchaeus who wanted to see who Jesus was. Once Zacchaeus discovered who Jesus was, who he really was, he was willing to change his whole life to please him . Once you see understand who Jesus really is, it will make you willing to offer him your entire life.