“Hosanna To The Son Of David!”(Mt.21:14-27).
“The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant. ‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?”‘ And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.”*
I think it was a good action for Jesus to leave the chief priests and the teachers of the law and go to Bethany. His response to their question already portrayed these religious gurus to be nothing but dumb-asses! Yes, these were chief priests who did not know the content of their own Scriptures for which they were zealous. These were teachers of the law who did not fully comprehend the content of the law they were teaching!
Jesus did not mind belittling them by his response, “Have you not read…?” They surely had not read, or they minimised what they read. Worst still, they didn’t see how such a praise fitted with Jesus.
For them, Jesus was an impostor, speaking blasphemy and impersonating God.
By the way, even if Jesus was an impostor, why would the very people representing God on earth be indignant at the wonderful things that Jesus did? Was it not enough that he was doing something good by healing the blind and the lame who came to him at the temple?
Here are a few lessons for today as gleaned from the text:
- Jesus heals those who come to him.
- The good and wonderful things you do for others attract the indignation of haters and envious people. All the same, continue doing good!
- Quite often, those who claim to be experts still miss the fine points of a script. Deeper meanings are often hidden between the lines and not in the lines.
- There is a time to withdraw from the maddening crowd until the right time comes. Jesus went and stayed the night in Bethany but returned to Jerusalem the following day. He was waiting for God’s “Kairos” – the right time.
- There is this new AI learning: children are asked sensitive questions about life, and they give sensible answers that defy the wisdom of adults. Why? It is because that a long time ago, the LORD called forth praise from the lips of children and infants; and he is still doing it today.
- Lastly, we are called upon to do wonderful things that glorify God. While we are responsible for doing that, we have no control over the reaction of others. Whether they are indignant or full of praise is not in our power to change, but how we react to their reactions makes the difference!
Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit, help me daily to glorify God when I see the wonderful things that the Lord Jesus Christ is doing for others. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
03/05/2026.