Jesus was riding a colt into Jerusalem. Crowds of followers waved palm branches, laying their coats on the ground. Crowds were shouting praise to God for all the works of power which Jesus had done!
Well… it wasn’t all positive. The Pharisees, putting up a front on behalf of 'Roman order', told Jesus to get this crowd under control to which Jesus promptly replied (no doubt with eye to eye contact with His critics) 'if these don’t do (this) then the stones will cry out!'
However, in the midst of all the noise and energy there is yet another scene! The colt stopped; Jesus on its back. At a strategic view point overlooking the city of Jerusalem Jesus was suddenly silent and stern. … certainly a changed mood from those stern words to His critics! Jesus became deeply grieved! What an incredible contrast!
The crowds were filled with excitement and emotion… but Jesus? He had more serious things on His mind, grieving over the stubborn and unrepentant hearts of these crowds of people who had encountered the Messiah and yet rejected Him, even claiming that they were looking for Him and even worshiping Him!
He was weeping for the people who had seen His miracles, heard His preaching; ate the food He multiplied to feed them 'plenty', healed by Him ...but with all of that, had missed the message! The Lord Jesus, surrounded by praise, adoration and popular honour… yet weeping for their lostness!
Even so, today, really how much of all the sound of adoration is actually in tune with what the Lord Jesus Christ is seeing and feeling about His people; those for whom He is truly concerned? The sound may often be more commotion than adoration; more applaud than worship and more sensual than sacred.
Where went the true and quiet heart of humble adoration, the quiet, contemplative thought so often replaced by sounds of jubilation? The Lord Jesus is the Son of God and God is Spirit says Jesus … those 'who worship (God, should) worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.' 'Your Strength … in Quietness …' (Isaiah 30:15)
Charlie Fordham is the Founder of Capernwray Bible School in Thetis Island, BC, Canada. Charlie has lectured and led the bible study program at Capernwray for over three decades. As Director of Torchbearers Capernwray Canada, Charlie Fordham is training people for full time Christian service through teaching and preaching locally and abroad, 'regardless of their occupation'.
