This Sunday begins Holy Week as we remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey amidst shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” By Friday, the shouts of “Crucify!” were louder. It’s not that everyone who was waving a palm branch on Sunday suddenly began waving an angry fist on Friday. It is to say that there were competing voices in the public square, and the anti-Jesus voice seemed to win out. The same might be said of our day. There are competing voices in our country, pro and anti-Jesus. For a long period of our nation’s history, it seemed as if the pro-Jesus voice won out. Now, the news reports a rapid drop in the percentage of people identifying as followers of Jesus and the Church having less and less influence in the public square. History repeats itself.

But we have God’s voice on Calvary recorded for us – a strong voice that boldly proclaimed, “It is finished!” What was finished? The perfect sacrifice offered to cover the guilt of sin that would otherwise leave the sinner lost, headed for an eternity away from God and His love – an eternity surrounded by people who could not care less about each other due to separation from Him who is and gives love.

So here’s what the battle of the voices is about: Each voice wants you to have a particular eternal destiny. The voice of Hosanna! rejoices in a loving God who saves and opens heaven to all who follow Jesus. The voice of Crucify! offers hell. The voice of Hosanna! is the voice of worship and commitment to the King. The voice of Crucify is rejection of the King in favor of self-rule.

Yes, according to the media and perhaps the evidence we witness in our own circle of influence, the voice of Crucify! may seem to be winning in the public square as it did on Good Friday, but Easter came and our Lord Jesus won.

History repeats itself when it comes to which voice ultimately wins. The Lord Jesus will return, and all who are following the King shall reign with Him forever. The question is, to which voice are you listening? I invite you to make it a priority to be a part of our entire Holy Week observance, praying that the Holy Spirit would enable you to hear anew the clear, powerful voice of our Lord who continues to say, “Follow Me!”