One of Holy Week's Greatest Ironies

The crowds in Jerusalem -- we have long remembered the way they waffled, the way they extolled the coming King on Palm Sunday, yet days later called for his execution.  Shocking? Yes. Tragic? Yes.  Ironic? Huh?

Holy Week is filled with fascinating paradoxes, ironies, and enigmas.  And perhaps one of the week's greatest ironies actuallly brackets The Great Week, for although the crowds shouted "hosanna!" (i.e. "save us") during Jesus' triumphal entry in to Jerusalem, they did not realize their later shouting of "crucify him!" would in fact turn their initial request into a reality.  In a very real sense then, hosanna! and crucify him! are inextricably linked, for it is by means of Christ's crucifixion that He in fact saves us!

O blessed Irony!