Bad Call, Ref
I have watched more basketball than I probably should have this week. March Madness is here. I grew up in a basketball family.
My sister, brother, and I played basketball for our high school teams. My mom went to the State Finals during her high school career. My brother coaches high school basketball in Texas. Though I played several sports growing up, I played basketball longer than the rest. I wasn’t very good, but I had a blast while I played.
I have observed something true for most fans and many players. When a referee makes a call, it is a great call only if it goes for my team. It is a bad call only if it goes against my team. Notice, we usually don’t care if it is the RIGHT CALL! We only care if it is good for our team. We boo any call that goes against us – even if the call is correct.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus rides into Jerusalem and the crowds exclaim: “Hosanna….Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (See Matthew 21:1-11). The crowds are excited to see Jesus. They even worship Him. Yay! We like this Messiah.
Next, Jesus does the unpopular task of cleaning out the temple and pointing out the unethical practices of the religious ritual and the religious leaders. The crowds, especially the religious leaders, do not like that at all. Boo! We don’t like this Messiah.
By the end of the week, Jesus is arrested, goes through some fixed trials at the hand of the Jewish leaders and Pilate, the Roman official. After all of this, He is brought back before the crowd.
They are given the choice of freeing Jesus or a revolution-driving, troublemaker named Barabbas. Prompted by the religious leaders, the crowd calls for Barabbas to be freed. When asked what should be done with Jesus, the crowds shout, “Crucify Him!” Boo! We don’t like this Messiah.
How can some of the same people change from Hosanna people to Crucify Him people?
Crowds like healing Messiahs. Crowds even like teaching Messiahs. Yay, Messiah.
Crowds don’t like temple cleansing Messiahs who point out the hypocrisy of man-centered religious activity rather than God-centered heart-engaged worship. Crowds don’t like Messiahs that get arrested and have religious leaders working for their execution. Boo, Messiah.
Crowds don’t like refs because they make right calls. Crowds like refs that make calls favorable to their team. Crowds don’t like Messiahs who represent the Father faithfully and present truth.
Crowds like Messiahs who allow the status quo, especially when the status quo is comfortable, convenient, and non-challenging.
Do you want the true Messiah or the one that fits your mold and makes you comfortable?
When you experience the true Messiah, do you sing “Hosannas” in worship or shout “Crucify Him” and want no part of Him?
This Palm Sunday and Easter, we have the opportunity to sing “Hosannas” in worship. That’s what I’ll be doing. What about you?