"We need to take our country back." "We need to put God back at the center of our nation." Now which of those statements would you attribute to Israel in the first century, and which would you attribute to modern western culture Christians. The truth is, both statements apply to both times. Our social media feeds are filled with memes and quotes and posts that say those same things; and while social media didn't exist in the first century, the people of Israel were living in the land of their heritage that had been taken over by the Roman empire. The taxes were usury, the political system was biased and their faith was allowed only in an effort to keep them from revolting.
A further truth is that that same politically oppressed people looked to this radically different Rabbi to restore their religious-centered nation and overthrow the seated political party. The feeding of the 4,000 (slightly less noted than that of the 5,000) was a group in the Decapolis on the other side of the Sea of Galilee who had likely met to formulate a plan for revolting against Rome.
See our current Christian culture in there anywhere? Me too.
The people wanted a new political leader, and thought they'd found it in Jesus. In fact, the crowd-lined street swelling with sounds of "hosanna" only confirm that. Hosanna means "Save Now". The problem is that the salvation Jesus entered Jerusalem to secure had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with their soul and spirit and eternity. And they turned on Him. He didn't do what they wanted Him to do in the way they expected him to do it. Done - moving on. "Crucify Him." And that, my friend, is exactly what we have in common; but it's more personal that just wishing we had a God-centered government or political system.
How often have I looked to the sky in a moment of stress or desperation and begged God to rescue me? How many times have we faced unmanageable circumstances and cried, "God save!" When have you found yourself watching loved one suffer and crying out to God, even in a worshipful atmosphere with complete trust, imploring Him to intervene? I've been there. I've done that, and so have you. If you've lived through any situation you can't control, you've had a "Hosanna" on your lips.
Unfortunately, just like those along the Palm Sunday parade route, there have been times I've found that Jesus had a different salvation in mind. When saving me looked very different than I had pictured or implored Him for. I've wanted one deliverance in a certain way, and He did something else entirely. Sometimes He didn't deliver at all. He didn't save. And I assume He didn't care. Crying out to Him didn't work. It didn't help, and just like that "Hosanna" turned to "Crucify".
I might not be so glum about all this except we're all facing a global pandemic sitting around acquiescing to our stay-at-home orders wondering where all the germs are and ruminating on a thousand other hypotheticals we can't wrap our minds around. What if I get the virus? What if the market doesn't recover? What if I've lost my retirement? What if my business can't reopen? What if my job doesn't call me back? What if I lose it all? And in all our questions we can't help but cry out, "God Save!" "Help!" "Save Now!" just like the people of Israel did all those years ago when they put all their political hope in a Rabbi on a donkey.
Here's a hypothetical for you... what if ALL those things happen? What if God doesn't move the way we hope He will? What if the worst we could imagine comes true? Just what if...
Christine Caine in an Insta-story last week challenged followers to trade our "What if"s for "Even if"s. Instead of asking ourselves "what if" thus and so came true, we ought to determine what our response will be "even if" those things all happen. Even if I get sick... Even if the market stays tanked... Even if I have to find another job... There are as many evens ifs as there are what ifs, and living in them brings so much more peace to our hearts and minds.
People who endured hardship in Scripture had an even if mindset. Job, for all his plights determine even if God were to slay him, he would still trust in Him. And Habakkuk gave us the memorable determination that even if the fig tree didn't bud, there were no grapes on the vine, no olive crop, food or livestock in the field, he would still rejoice and be joyful in God his Savior.
Am I saying that we should just lay down and accept the circumstances as they are? No. Pray. "Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything." Am I suggesting that in times if distress we should not cry out to God for deliverance and help? Absolutely not. Let Him hear from you in gut-level honesty (see the Psalms if you're uncertain how to do that).
I would simply encourage you to hold loosely the picture you have of how God will answer. Relinquish your preconceived ideas that you know exactly how He will accomplish His will on the earth. Accept that His ways are higher than ours and His thoughts are higher still.
And do this... for your own peace of mind. Decide your even ifs for every what if the enemy plants in your head. Let the escalation from Hosanna to Crucify end in us. Yes, God please Save, but even more God be glorified.