Welcome to Wednesday’s Podcast.

Our reading today is Matthew 21: 1-17 but today we’ll focus on verses 8 -9

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’

‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’

‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

REFLECTION:

Today I’d love us to think about breakthrough.  Google defines a breakthrough as: a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.  The term is borrowed from the military – in warfare breakthrough means ‘an offensive military assault that penetrates and carries beyond a defensive line.’  Or it can be defined as moving through or beyond an obstacle.

Let me ask you this question: where do you need a breakthrough?  Relational? Family? Work?

There are moments in life where he hit a situation – an insurmountable challenge where we need a breakthrough.

On Monday, our third child Phoebe was three weeks old. The story of our family – or specifically having children – is the story of breakthrough.

For each of our three children we’ve needed medical help to conceive.

I still remember that feeling in the pit of my stomach as we sat with a doctor who would share some test results where we would learn that for us to have our own children would be very difficult.  It turned out that we were to become one of the 3.5 million people in the UK who experience infertility. They reckon it affects 1 in 7 couples.  It has been at times excruciatingly hard.

Let’s turn to today’s passages – I’d love us to think about the crowds and about their desire for a breakthrough.  These verses are usually read a week before Easter on Palm Sunday.

Matthew paints a scene: Jesus on the colt (baby donkey) and there are the crowds waving branches – the shouts and praises of hosanna – all these moments are all foretold – packed with prophetic meaning. The whole of Biblical history has pointed to this moment: Jesus slowly making his way into Jerusalem as king.

So, back to the crowds for a moment.

They are desperate for a breakthrough. They want things to change and can’t change them by themselves.

I’ve been there. I’ve experienced that feeling of helplessness. Of not being in control.

God’s people were in the grip of the Roman Empire. All the promises of God seemingly lay in tatters.

They longed for the Messiah to come and put it all right, hence why Jerusalem was pulsating with hope. The atmosphere electric and with the deeply held belief that victory is not far away… the Messiah was coming.

Back to the crowds for the third time.

So, here’s my question – why do some of those people shout ‘hosanna’ one day and then a few days later ‘crucify him…’

Why?

The breakthrough did come – just not in the way they expected.

Jesus goes on to show us that the path of victory was via the cross of surrender.

This is what I’ve learned. It’s very tempting to let disappointment set into our hearts when things don’t work out as we expect. When God doesn’t do what we want him to in our timing.

It’s in those moments that we learn that he really is God and he does what he does. We don’t always understand it or like it. But we are called to trust Him – because he will work it out in his way and his timing in the end.

Isaiah 55:8 says this:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.

If you’re waiting for a breakthrough – I’d love to leave us with this verse from a song. Google the song; it’s called ‘Sovereign Over Us’ – I have found it so helpful.

Reflect on this verse:

Your plans are still to prosper

You have not forgotten us