Last Sunday was Palm Sunday, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem like a king. In less than a week’s time, the city would turn on him and Jesus would be crucified. How is this possible when so many people would gather to hear his message and Jesus spoke nothing but truth?
Much like the parable of the sower, Jesus’ message was not falling on “good soil”. During his time in Jerusalem, Jesus spent much of his time answering difficult questions asked by the Pharisees, whose only purpose was to test him. Jesus spoke so much truth during his short time in Jerusalem, but the people were not receptive. James 1:22 – 24 says,
Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
It is not enough to hear the words of Jesus. You have to allow your head knowledge to become heart knowledge. Once the Word penetrates your heart, the only natural response is to let God’s love flow out through your hands and feet, now making you a “Doer of the Word.”
This is something the religious leaders of the time were not able to do. It’s evident in their need to accomplish their own selfish agendas. Nothing about Pharisees attracted others to become closer to God because, while they knew the word, they did not live it out.
There was a film that came out about 10 years ago called To Save A Life. The main character is a nonbeliever who becomes interested in what it means to be a Christian. He starts going to church but is quickly put off by many who attend that seem to act just as worldly as nonbelievers. Growing frustrated, he finally blurts out, “What’s the point of all this if you’re not going to let it change you?!”
The answer? There is no point. Your walk with God can either attract people or turn people away. Matthew 5:16 says,
Let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Unlike the people in Jerusalem, allow Jesus’ message to change you. Be a doer of the word and a reason someone chooses to glorify your Father today.