FROM HOSANNA TO CRUCIFIXION.

By Foster Boateng Sarpong

The journey of Jesus from hosanna to crucifixion reveals one of the most painful aspects of human nature. The moment is characterized with deep emotion because it shows how man’s affection can turn into rejection. As human as we are, we praise loyalty yet fear and pressure easily shake those promises. The reflection titled from hosanna to the sorrowful road of crucifixion reflects the weakness found in human decisions.

In John 19:12-16, Pilate sought to release Jesus, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend; everyone who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar”. When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and said to the Jews, “Here is your king”. They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief Priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

Often in our lives, we mingle with fair-weather fans. Many people tend to admire success, power, and triumph. When someone seems strong or victorious, others are drawn to them, offering admiration and praise. This situation is clearly seen in the life of Jesus Christ. When Jesus entered Jerusalem before His Passion, the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowd that went ahead of Him and that followed Him were shouting, Hosanna to the son of David. And upon entering Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil asking whom is this and they responded, this is the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee (Mat 21:8). It seems impossible for people to be so fickle, that the same people He fed (Mat 14:21), healed all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases (Mat 4:23), had compassion upon (14:14), revealed the father’s kingdom to (Luke 4:43), Praise him of all kinds, raised Lazarus from the dead in nearby Bethany in few days before His execution(John 11:43-44) however, only a few days later the same crowd demanded His crucifixion, cried out by saying Away with him! away with him! crucify him. This dramatic change reveals an important truth about human nature. People are often loyal when things are pleasant, but disappear when suffering arises. This clearly tells you that, when a person is at their peak, successful, providing value, or trendy, the world offers a chorus of Hosannas.

Life sometimes becomes so disheartening that the very people we trust most betray us. This is because, as Christians as we are, our praises depend on a circumstance. There is a danger and a trap for many of us, for we shout, Hosanna! When things go well, when our children are obedient, it’s been weeks since we experienced poverty and a major conflict with our spouse and loved ones. Then we see Jesus as the King of kings and the Savior of all our circumstances. But then, when circumstances devolve, we doubt who he is and then question his very character. We are tempted to turn our backs, ashamed of the cross and the man on it. Humans will only tolerate, respect, and smile with you when you possess what is lacking in their lives. Your mistakes will be tolerated. People will fight for you in your absence because they milk on your table or want a favor from you. There is a musician called Lumba, when he was alive, mankind worshiped him, they danced to the tune of his music, and even after his death, people use his music, but guess what happens shortly after his death, crucifixion of all kinds, from those he called friends, families, and loved ones. This reveals the true nature of man that most people love the benefit of a relationship but flee the burden of it. Our Hosannas are often just loud expressions of our own expectations, not true commitment.

The big question is why do people abandon the truth, thus what suddenly changed from king of kings to a common criminal, from hosanna to away with him. This reveals how inconsistent man is in the face of tribulations. In (John 19:13-15), the people shouted, Away with him! away with him! Crucify him! Pilate asked them. Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests replied. We have no king but Caesar. This tells you how and why people compromise the truth to protect their personal interests. The statement is shocking because these leaders were supposed to serve God alone. Yet they rejected their own king out of political fear. In John 19:16, the scripture says, then he handed him over to them to be crucified. This moment marks the complete abandonment of Jesus. The crowd that once welcomed Him now pushed for His death. This led Jesus to bear his own cross (John 19:17). In bearing his own cross, he turned not backward. He gave his back to the smitters, and his cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; And he never hid his face from shame and spitting, for his help came from God, and that he never confounded (Isaiah 50:5-7). And at the end his grave was made with both the wicked and the rich man, this tells you how they disgraced our Savior, although he did wrong and there was no deceit in his mouth (Isaiah 53:8-10). Many individuals experience similar situations in their own lives. When a Christian faces false accusations, personal struggles, financial hardship, or public embarrassment, the number of supporters often decreases. People who once stood close may distance themselves to avoid association with the problem.  In John 19:12, the people pressured Pilate by saying, If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. This is a real -life situation where the crowd controls justice. Understand how quickly human praise disappears.

The journey of Christ, from being celebrated to facing Crucifixion, provides a profound lesson for Christians who may feel weary of doing good or carrying their burdens, especially during times of betrayal or rejection. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowd greeted Him with shouts of “Hosanna.” Yet, just a few days later, many of those same individuals were calling for His crucifixion. This moment, recorded in the Gospel of John (19:12-19) and the Gospel of Matthew (21:8-11), demonstrates that loyalty to God does not always result in immediate recognition from others.

Moral lessons

1. Continue to do good things, even if others change. Recognition from others is fleeting. The group that once embraced Jesus eventually turned against Him. Christians should engage in good deeds not to seek approval from others, but for the glory of God. The life of Jesus illustrates how people’s emotions can fluctuate easily, while God’s truth remains constant. A Christian should maintain their loyalty, even when they no longer receive acknowledgment. When others betray or misunderstand you, remember that God acknowledges your positive qualities. The very group that once praised Him later demanded His crucifixion. Although their voices may have changed, Christ’s love remains constant. This should inspire us as Christians.
2. Recognize that the cross is an essential element of the Christian life. Jesus taught that to be His follower involves taking up one’s cross. The cross represents suffering, misunderstanding, and selflessness. It is essential to recognize that Christ embraced both admiration and rejection while steadfastly pursuing His mission. Christians should understand that suffering for the sake of righteousness is an integral part of being a disciple.
3.  Don’t let betrayal diminish your trust. Christ experienced betrayal from His friends and rejection from those He had helped, yet He stayed dedicated to loving and serving others. Christians should strive to prevent feelings of betrayal from evolving into resentment. We should stay patient in difficult situations, even if others do not reciprocate.
4. Remember that crucifixion is not the concluding event. It was followed by the resurrection. This suggests that loyalty does not lead to pain and rejection. Christ embraced the cross willingly, knowing it would lead to victory and salvation. In a similar vein, consistently participating in positive actions leads to spiritual success.

  A key takeaway from the shift from Hosanna to Crucifixion is that public opinion can change rapidly. People may praise you today, but criticize you tomorrow. Christians should strive to align their actions with God’s will rather than seeking the approval of others. Christians who feel exhausted from their efforts to do good should remember that, although people may change, God remains steadfast and reliable. Embracing the cross is an essential part of being a follower of Christ. Betrayal should never impede love or kindness. Pain is fleeting, but God’s victory endures forever. Staying loyal to God is far more important than seeking approval from others. Always strive to embody Christ-like qualities. For Christ although, the wood was heavy but the love was heavier, Every drop of blood was a whisper of I love you. To the world, it was a walk of shame but to him, it was a rescue mission. This should be our motivation as Christians. May the lord bless you and have a fruitful Easter. Shalom!