Followers and Friends

In a couple of days—on “Palm Sunday”— many of our churches will celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell the story. And all of them but John include the following incident:

As (Jesus) approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” (Luke 19:29-31)

The Lord needs it? Um…right.

Responding in obedience to this demand would have been pretty difficult, but the Bible doesn’t indicate that the disciples took any time arguing—they simply did what Jesus told them to do.

A few verses later, we find a throng of people celebrating, and lining the road before Jesus with palm fronds (thus “Palm Sunday”). This crowd was hopeful beyond hope that they were witnessing something very special; maybe even something messianic.

Jumping in with the crowd wouldn’t have been too difficult. Trust me, when a rock-star or a head of state walks right by you, it’s fairly difficult not to get caught up in the buzz (don’t ask).

Here’s the point: Do we get caught up in following Jesus because He’s a “rock-star”, or have we committed our lives to Jesus as disciples who would really do anything He asks us to do?

It’s the difference between true friendship and the Facebook variety.

It’s the difference between being a true follower and clicking a button on Twitter.

It’s the difference between life and death—between keeping your own life and simply cheering Jesus on, or denying yourself, taking up your cross daily and following Him. (Luke 9:23).