Faith, Folklore, and Friends

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.   They took palm branches  and went out to meet him, shouting,  Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the  name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!   Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;      see, your King is coming,      seated on a donkey’s colt. ~John 12: 12-15

Hosanna. A word of praise, a word of happiness. A word used for adoration. The crowd shouted "Hosanna" as He rode the donkey into Jerusalem. Some threw their garments on the road in front of Him, giving Him the royal welcome. Some broke tree branches and made Him a welcome mat. Some were attracted by the cheering, and didn't have a clue what was happening. "Who is this? What's going on?" they questioned. The parade crowd, the ones closest to Jesus, answered. They said, "This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee." I wonder what our LORD thought, as He heard their hosannas and praise. Where they still praising when He cleaned the temple just a few hours later? Did the all-knowing look ahead for a few days, and see these same people cheering from the sidelines as He was being beaten? Did He see them accusing Him before Pilate? When He said, "Father, forgive them", was He referring to the soldiers? Or to a crowd that might l...