As we approach Passion Week, the Palm Sunday triumphal entry grabs my attention: all those crowds, saying all the right things:

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21.8, 9, NIV)

Yet within a week, many of these same people would have been in the crowd clamoring for his crucifixion. After the resurrection and ascension, there were only 120 people in the Upper Room.

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying… In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)… (Acts 1.12 – 15, NIV)

Only 120! What happened to the rest? I’d like to explore that question over the next few days beginning with the simple observation that knowing about someone, even experiencing his charisma, is no substitute for relationship.

Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he answered, “Truly, I say to you,I do not know you.” (Matthew 25.11, 12, ESV, emphasis mine)

Eddie Broussard is a well-known Navigator. I’ve heard him preach many times. If we ran into each other at Navigator Headquarters, especially if I had a name tag on, he would greet me warmly. But I don’t have a relationship with Eddie Broussard. By contrast, I was watching Eddie and his wife, Barbie, in a small room with a number of people in it. They were both smiling and greeting everyone. Then she went to Eddie, lightly touched his arm, put on a serious face, and whispered maybe once sentence into his ear. He nodded and they both went back to working the room. That’s relationship! 

Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you. (Revelation 3.20, MSG)

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (John 1.11, 12, NKJV)