How To Take The Good With The Bad

How To Take The Good With The Bad
 
My memories of Palm Sunday are all glorious-every single one.  I grew up in church and can remember as a child-waving palm branches and sitting with my parents and then as a teenager keenly understanding that palm branches can also be used as weapons. 
 
Vicious weapons that left tiny welts on my arms and my friends’ arms as we battled for dominance of the church’s fellowship hall. I also remember the cute girl who would make the palms into crosses and deciding to learn how to do that to impress her.
 
As a twenty-something who had recommitted my life to Jesus, Palm Sunday took on a deeper, more meaningful tone; riddled with tension. The tension of the crowd who cried “Hosanna!” that would days later cry out, “Crucify him!” It makes my stomach turn every time I think on it.
 
We always start the story at the triumphal entry, but if you read the account written by John, he makes a very interesting note before the famous story.
 
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out Jesus was there (in Bethany) and came, not only to because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.  John 12:9-11
 
Here are a couple of very simple, logical truths about Jesus.

1. He did amazing things.
2. He attracted positive attention.
3. He attracted negative attention.

 
These truths are basic-if you know anything about Jesus you can deduce these things, but what struck me was the second part of this passage about Lazarus (John 11:38-44)

1. Jesus did something amazing-raised him from the dead
2. Lazarus attracted positive attention.
3. Lazarus attracted negative attention.

 
Here we have a legitimate miracle witnessed by a large group of people.  This was not some backroom parlor trick, but a genuine miracle – a man had been publicly raised from the dead after 4 days- 4 DAYS!!!!!
 
Let’s turn the camera around on each person who has experienced life transformation, or miracle, or the joy of knowing Jesus. 
 
If you have experienced legitimate life change here are some facts:

1. Jesus has changed your life.
2. You now attract positive attention.
3. You now attract negative attention.

 
So what do we do?
 
Here are a few things:

1. Move with God-Jesus knew the path he was on and he stuck to it.  He refused to veer from the path.  He rode the donkey into the city and embraced the suffering laid out before him
   
2. Love the haters-I am sure there is a more eloquent way to say that-but that is how Jesus handled the negative attention.
   
3. Talk about it every chance you get.-If Lazarus was raised from the dead the video would go viral and he would be on every talk show in America.  He would gladly share his story-and so would his sisters.