The Copts of Egypt are to celebrate Palm Sunday or as in Latin the feast of branches .It is a commemoration of Jesus entrance to Jerusalem and the crowds receiving Him cheering and holding branches. We spoke at the last year about Jesus’ love and his compassion over the multitudes as he went about doing good, healing the sick, raising the dead and blessing the little food so that it fed thousands and fragments remained. Thus, they loved Him and wanted to enthrone Him as a king>
However, to our wonder, the calling of the multitudes was repeated, yet in another form, requesting His crucifixion and death. The Holy Bible says that Pilates had a habit to release a prisoner on Crossover that was close at that time. So while the archpriests and the elders were handing Jesus Christ to Pilates, he himself wanted to release Him at the feast for knowing that they were handing Him out of jealousy and envy. He said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” However, they drove many to ask for the release of Barabbas who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. They also asked them to demand the crucifixion of Jesus. When the governor asked them, “Why, what evil has He done?” .They did not answer but rather raised their voices demanding His crucifixion. Here one should wonder if there were among those who raised their voices asking for His Crucifixion, some of those who cheered Him while entering Jerusalem, which drive us to ask a critical question, “What is the reason of this radical change?”
First, we should know that we meet different types of people that they may vary and differ to a great extent. There are those simple characters who show easily what they feel then complexity take degrees till it reaches those who balance between the feelings they carry and the feelings they want to show to people, both contradict with each other, so you can not figure out what they feel except through real situations and interactions. Thus they say that life situations, especially at the time of danger and need are the great display of the feeling one hide.
Undoubtedly, during the celebration of Jesus entry into Jerusalem, there were those who have honest feelings, those who truly loved Jesus and felt His abundant love due to the goodness He offered them. Thus, they turned into His sincere followers. For instance, John the Believed, His disciple, the Mary who served and followed Him till the Cross. There were also the selfish followers as they think they would get what they want by getting closer to Him, while deeply they did not know Him at all. Thus they stopped following Him at the time of distress .There were those who wanted Him as an earthly king to lead the war against the Roman occupation. So when they discovered, He was not so, they were stirred against Him and asked for His Crucifixion. This is how people vary and differ, however Jesus’ love will never vary or differ. His gifts and goodness have never ceased. There is always a resurrection and sunrise after darkness no matter how long it was.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
