Sunday, March 24, 2002
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Sunday, March 24, 2002 |
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The day the crowd finally got it right By DR. KNOX HERNDON Crowds are an interesting phenomenon. They have shaped history and led many a person down "Primrose Lane." For those of you under 40, "Primrose Lane" is like, the "Yellow Brick Road" and for those of you who can't even remember the Beatles, maybe you can remember "The Wizard of Oz." It's really interesting how the gender gap widens as I get younger. Many an old "wild Western" movie has been made where in the theme, or story line, a person or small group in the crowd would sway the people one way or the other for a particular outcome. Sometimes it would be for the right reason and sometimes for some wrong reason. The other day I watched the old classic Western "High Noon" and how the marshal (Gary Cooper) cleared out the town of the former rowdy criminal element and made it a safe place to live. Everyone appreciated him and looked up to him for what he did for the town. Then, as only Hollywood can weave our emotions, the criminal element returns to the town to take it back over. The popular marshal then tries to raise support to resist these people. He goes to every loyal person he knows and asks them to support him and help him clean up the town of these four men of whom the ring leader is returning on the noon train. He goes to the saloon and tries. He even goes to the church where a worship service is being conducting and the pastor even lets the marshal speak. He gives an impassioned plea for help as, one by one, his support dwindles. Even one man who early on said he would help, makes his cowardly excuses and drops out. The marshal is now faced with the crowd solidly not behind him and the train arriving at any minute. To further complicate the issue, as only Hollywood can, the marshal has just married, and his wife (Grace Kelly) decides to leave on the same train in an effort to coax him to leave with her and not face the impending danger. This classic film became the format for hundreds of Western movies to follow. At this point you're going to have to rent the movie for the ending. A similar situation took place over 2,000 years ago. Jesus of Nazereth began his ministry at the age of 30. He walked and taught and preached and healed and even fed the thousands and clamed to be the Son of God. At times he would draw huge crowds and was accepted most everywhere he went, especially with the common people. This Sunday is what the Christian world calls "Palm Sunday" for it is the day that, finally, the crowd got it right. It was the day that the people, after hearing and seeing Jesus teach and preach and heal and do the miracles, finally figured it out. It was a time when they allowed in their hearts to let Christ be triumphant. They, as the scriptures record, took off their garments and laid them in his path and cut palm branches and proclaimed him their King. Finally the crowd got it right. A few short days later the same crowd after the agitation of the religious establishment, were screaming for his execution. The question that haunts us today is: Which crowd are we in? This Sunday our church will celebrate our fifth-year anniversary as a church. Following the 11 a.m. (bring a friend) Sunday service and special music, we will host one of our famous covered-dish dinners, followed by an "all-church-all age" softball game (if our ball field is dry). Folks, it doesn't get much better than this. Happy love-filled Easter ! Get it right! Get your "crowd" together and join us in saying "Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna!" The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev. Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The church is just below Fayetteville, on Ga. Highway 85, a mile south of Ga. Highway 16, just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail KHERN2365@aol.com.
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