“On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!’” (John 12:12-13 New American Standard Bible)
Teaching high school Psychology back in the mid-seventies, we spent some time focusing on the subject of collective behavior. We looked at this phenomenon from the perspective of persons being caught up in the momentous mood of the crowd, with the absence of any true opinion about the reason for the crowd’s behavior. While I could spend some time talking about collective behavior in regard to individuals, such as times when people just get caught up in a demonstration, a protest, or even a disturbing riot, and lack any true sentiment, one way or the other, regarding the issue at hand. However, let me use two illustrations; one regarding a father and son outing and the other, appropriately for this day, the praise of the masses at the time Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday.
Let’s start with the father and son outing. A father takes his one-year-old twins to a playoff game in his city. The father has followed the home team faithfully, and if you saw him at a game, you would put him in the category of a truly fanatic follower of the home team. At games he is active, vocal, demonstrative on what he perceives as a good play or a bad play. He is that fan who does not hide his emotions. This is true when the official at the game makes a bad call or an excellent call, in his view.
The father and his toddler aged sons take their seats on the first level, surrounded by home team, equal enthusiasts and devoted supporters. The game starts. The little lads seem content to eat their snacks and apparently, they are not fazed at all by what is going on during the game during the first period. When the second period comes around, it’s a different story. They watch their dad and the other devoted home team supporter. If the dad and like-minded fans in the nearby seats expressed anger or disgust with corresponding body language and perhaps even some bad language, his sons emulate the dad and the crowd. They do the exact same thing without any independent based reason for doing so. When the dad and the faithful fans in the stand rise up and applaud and holler loudly, “Way to go!” the boys do the exact same thing. Again, there is no thought involved on their part, no personal consideration as to whether the hand clapping and verbal affirmation was deserved. These children were just caught up, in both situations, in collective behavior.
Now, let’s look at Palm Sunday from a historic and biblical perspective. Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem, and the crowd is laying down palm branches and shouting the words that you read in the opening verses. If human behavior tendencies typically found in crowds were present on that day, then surely there were some people who were just in the crowd and going along with what the masses were doing. Surely there were some who are like people who come into the worship service and join in with the dynamics displayed by other individuals who showed up for church. For instance, if the majority of the congregation engages in praising, lifting hands, shouting out “Amen,” or perhaps they stand on their feet, some people, individuals from all ages, will do the same. That’s okay if it is in agreement. But, if it is merely doing what the masses are doing or if one merely gets emotionally connected with others, nut are in fact disconnected spiritually, that’s just another example of collective behavior. Unfortunately, what we witness is not always Christian behavior. The latter, Christian behavior, is preferred and encouraged! For when it comes to Christian behavior, your reaction is based on your own internal reverence, your own personal way of responding from your heart, and your worship is truly for real!
My friend, be glad to be in the service! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord, sincerely! Encourage the choir and the chosen messenger that is delivering the sermon! I’m not telling you to be silent, not at all! I’m not telling you that if the Spirit moves you, don’t let Him have His way, not at all! What I am telling you is to make sure you demonstrate Christian behavior instead of merely being a part of collective behavior..
Now, go worship the Lord in spirit and in truth! Let your expressions and engaging behaviors be for real! And as the week goes forward and you come to next Sunday, Resurrection Morning, realize you have something to shout about! Praise God! Don’t change your expression of celebration or shouting praise that the Lord deserves! Keep in mind the truth found in the verses below. Be for real my Christian friend, today, tomorrow, and forever. Let your rejoicing be sincere, for I know the Lord had you in mind when He gave His life on an old rugged cross! Enjoy worship! Be blessed!
“Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you and your people will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You and your people worship what you don’t know; we worship what we know because salvation is from the Jews. But the time is coming—and is here! —when true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth. The Father looks for those who worship him this way. God is spirit, and it is necessary to worship God in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21-24 Contemporary English Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King