Caught Up In the Crowd

John 12:12-19.

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”  And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.  The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

Just days before he was sent to be crucified there was a large crowd that gathered to Worship and to welcome Jesus.  Then just later, that same crowd had several people who were calling out to crucify him.  It’s very easy in the world today to get caught up in a crowd and do as they do.  Its only in our boldness to step and be separate that we will find a deeper relationship with Christ and a stronger experience with the Holy Spirit. 

What areas of your life do you get caught in the crowd?  Is it gossip at work, is it worshiping earthly idols like your phone, is it a TV show that you know doesn’t align with your beliefs but you watch it because its popular?  Or is it simply going through the motions of Christianity because you want the title?  I pray it is none of those things, but the World today puts pressure on us to conform to their crowd.  Don't follow the wrong crowd.  Surround yourself with like-minded Christians who will encourage you and lift you up in Christ.  Be bold in areas where you may have to stand alone for Christ and know that he will stand with you and give you strength.

Be Blessed

Pastor Brandon