Matthew 21:6-11 –,And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

It was wonderful. The Messiah entering the capital of His kingdom. Wonderful. All was going to be well. The Romans were going to be swept away. “Hosanna” the people cried. “Save now, we pray”.
It was terrible. The Messiah nailed to a cross outside of the city. Terrible. The followers scattered. It was a shambles. There was no saving from the barbarian oppressors. The people had turned on their “Messiah” and led the cry for the crucifixion.
This is the time, of course, to contemplate the happenings of that week in Jerusalem. I was praying about it this morning, and it struck me that the triumphal entry, followed by the swift rejection, was a picture of what happens to many new believers.
Do you remember when you got saved? Was it a great moment in your life? Was it a glorious revelation – and did you think Christ was going to come marching into your life, and drive out all the bad things that had you captive and start a whole new life for you? And what happened next?
After you got saved did life remain a struggle? In fact did some parts of it get even harder? It did for me. There were some parts of my life that became a shambles. I felt disappointed. Things were not what I expected at all. But then …
Did you ever hear Tony Campolo’s famous rendering of S. M. Lockridge’s sermon “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming”? The climax is glorious:

It’s Sunday, and the crucified and resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave. It’s Sunday. And now everything has changed. It’s the age of grace, God’s grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary was buried and rose again. All because it’s Sunday.

So it is for the truly saved saint. Times might get tricky. There might by a triumphal entry into the kingdom, followed by dark times and even a Good Friday of the soul. But fear not … Sunday’s coming.  Recall this great promise that Paul writes in his letter to the Romans:

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.