Causing a Ruckus

Imagine being raised from the dead only to be made a target.

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well,  since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. - John 12:9-11

This is the day of Holy Week when Jesus enters the Temple and drives out the money changers, an act that would definitely anger the High Priests.

But John doesn't focus on that.  Instead, he explains why so many came out to herald the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem.  He claims it was because they heard about Lazarus.

If that is true, then it could explain why Jesus waited when he heard Lazarus was dying.

With so many people wanting to get close to him, eager to see what he would do now that he was in Jerusalem, I imagine it was quite a crowd that gathered at the Temple when Jesus turned over the tables and insulted the religious establishment.

So, Jesus is attacking on two fronts.  He arrives as a king insulting Rome, and then brings the crowd to the Temple to charge the establishment with corruption.

The crowd is his only protection.  So long as they are with him and continue to support him, the leaders are afraid to take action against him.

So this is how our walk with Jesus begins.  We are in the crowd.

What do we want from him?  What type of king will he be for us?

I wonder what the crowd is thinking.  Will they begin to fear reprisal for cheering him on?

By the end of the week, this crowd will be replaced by another shouting for his execution.  Do you think he saw that coming?

As we make our way through this day, let us try to focus on our commitment to Christ and how we react to situations that are frightening or uncertain.

Do we stay with him, or do we slip away?

More to come...