There are many things that people do not want to miss, for example a big sports game, the presidential debate or a family wedding. Two thousand years ago there was a nation having a special dinner called The Passover and none of them wanted to miss it. “For the Jews, Passover was a religious observance and a celebration of their liberation from Egypt. During Jesus’ time, it also had become an opportunity to express their longing for political freedom from Rome. In fact, Jews claiming to be “messiahs” had so often caused riots during Passover that the Romans brought extra troops into Jerusalem at that time. They would not hesitate to shed blood to keep the peace.”[1]
This particular Jewish Passover was unique in the day of Jesus because as the Jewish nation was looking for their political freedom, they had considered it to be Jesus Christ that was going to usher in a new government. So it was on that day when Jesus road on a donkey “the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9).
Unfortunately, they were so concerned with Jesus being the political leader that was going to free them that they missed it. What do you ask did they miss? They missed that Jesus was the chosen lamb to fulfill the sacrifice. You see it was the Sunday before the crucifixion on Friday. It was the day the Jewish people were picking the chosen lamb that would be used for the Passover meal. Look to the passage in Exodus of the Bible chapter twelve. It states that “the tenth of this month they (the Israelites) are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers households, a lamb for each household…….. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight” (Exodus) 12:1-9. It was Jesus riding through on the donkey that was the chosen lamb that was to be sacrificed four days later. When the people were shouting Hosanna in that culture it was a term that meant “please save us” in a political saving. They missed the salvation they needed over the salvation they wanted. God had chosen the Lamb to bring true salvation that would be eternal and not limited to an earthly government. God was bringing a salvation that would reconcile a sinner to Himself through Jesus.
On this Resurrection Sunday also known as Easter, will you only see Easter eggs and bunnies? During this season will you be crying out for a savior in our government? Will you see the true Savior and worship God for His great mercy during the celebration of the Resurrection? Will you desire to tell others of His ways? Or will you miss it?