day 25: the crowd

Day 25: “The Crowd”

Scripture Reading: John 12:12–19

There is something both beautiful and deeply unsettling about the crowd. They are loud in their praise “Hosanna!” They are passionate in their celebration.They are eager, hopeful, and full of expectation. And yet… they do not truly understand Jesus. The crowd welcomes Him as King, but only the kind of king they want. A king who will restore their comfort, secure their future, and defeat their enemies. But Jesus does not come riding a war horse, He comes on a donkey. Not to conquer Rome, but to conquer sin. Not to take a throne, but to go to a cross. And here lies the tension we must not ignore: It is possible to praise Jesus… and still miss Him.

The crowd reminds us that enthusiasm is not the same as discipleship. Noise is not the same as faith. A moment of excitement is not the same as a life of surrender. As a pastor, I find myself asking not just about the people in the pews, but about my own heart: Am I following Jesus for who He truly is, or for what I hope He will do for me? Because when Jesus does not meet the expectations of the crowd, the crowd does not stay. Some drift away. Others fall silent. And within days, the voices that once cried “Hosanna” are nowhere to be found.

This passage invites us into a deeper, quieter, more costly kind of faith. A faith that follows Jesus not only in celebration, but in confusion.Not only in blessing, but in suffering. Not only when He gives but when He asks. The call of Christ is not to join the crowd, but to become a disciple. The crowd gathers when it is easy. Disciples remain when it is hard.

So today, we examine our hearts. Are we simply part of the crowd drawn by what Jesus can do? Or are we truly His disciples committed to who He is? Because Jesus is not looking for admirers. He is calling followers.

Prayer:

Lord, we all dream. We all have idea of how things should be or could be. Help me see who you truly are and understand the kingdom you bring to earth through us. As I shout joyfully, “Hosanna!” let me also pray earnestly, “Save us now,” in every circumstance.

Grace and Peace,

Rev, Won Kim

Lead Pastor of RockSpring Church