What A Difference A Week Made

there is an old song sung by dinah washington, and some of the lyrics are:

'what a difference a day made, and the difference is you.'

for the triumphal entry story i'd sing it like this:

'what a difference a week made, and the difference is...me.'

"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna! Son of David!" they cried out in the streets. What enthusiasm, what joy! Jesus sat on a young donkey and the people cheered and threw their coats in the road for him to ride over. Others spread palm branches for the King of Israel, Son of David, the Messiah.

clarity can come so clearly and quickly one day, and be gone in an instant when the devil takes over. this same crowd saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, saw him perform miracles, and perhaps heard his teachings. those who had not yet heard of Jesus, asked about who he was and came to celebrate also. everyone in that city was excited about Jesus! but that same crowd turns on Jesus within one week. by friday he is crucified like a common thief.

john tells us that the disciples had no idea what was going on with the people. they did not understand why they were so excited about Jesus, not until after it was over.

during holy week, i will be thinking about the emotional rollercoaster Jesus must have been enduring. first he was up, then he was down, and then he was up again! after all, he was fully divine and fully human. of course, he felt every human emotion and now understands us as limited beings. sunday, the jubilant and triumphal entry, and everyone was treating him like a king ,but by friday death by crucifixion! wow! what a difference a week made! this is probably the most important week in history. no, it really is the single most important week in history.

boldly, now i may approach the throne of grace. when i get there, what will i do? what can i do but worship! Jesus made it possible for me to do this. hosanna! hosanna to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! hosanna to the Messiah! hosanna! it's holy week, the week that really made a diffrence for me! yes!

questions
how has God blessed you? what can you shout hosanna about?

read
Matthew 21, Mark 11, John 12

song in my head:
'hosanna! hosanna! hosanna in the highest!' -hosanna by hillsong united