By Ogunbowale, Tolulope Sobiye
Have you ever noticed how quickly people can change? Today, they praise you, celebrate your success, and speak good things about you. Tomorrow, the same people may ignore you, criticise you or even speak against you. Life can change that quickly. That is the message behind the saying, “Hosanna today, crucify him tomorrow.” It reminds us that human praise is often temporary and people’s opinions can change overnight.
This is something many of us have experienced. You do something well and everyone applauds you. You receive compliments, messages and encouragement. But when things do not go as expected, the applause becomes silence. Sometimes, the people who once stood beside you are nowhere to be found.
We see this every day. A student is celebrated for coming first in class, but one poor score changes how people talk about that student. An employee is called hardworking and dedicated until one mistake happens. A business owner is admired while business is booming but when challenges come, many supporters disappear. It is a reminder that people often celebrate success more than they value people.
Social media has contributed greatly to this. Someone can become popular today because of one good story or achievement. The next day, one rumour or mistake can turn that same person into the subject of criticism. The same platform that lifted the person up begins to pull the person down. It shows how fast public opinion can change.
The truth is that many people love good moments, but not difficult seasons. It is easy to stand with someone when everything is going well. It is harder to remain loyal when life becomes uncomfortable. That is why real friendship and genuine support are easy to recognise during difficult times, not during celebrations.
This saying also asks us to look at ourselves. Have we ever changed our opinion about someone because of what we heard from others? Have we ever joined in judging someone without knowing the full story? Sometimes we become part of the crowd without even realising it. Instead of showing kindness, we follow what everyone else is saying.
Let’s try to stay humble when people praise us. Compliments are good, but they should not control our lives. If we depend on people’s validation to feel worthy, we will be disappointed when that approval changes. Our worth should not be determined by people’s opinions. It is paramount to believe in ourselves and be self conscious of our worth. In this vein, people’s opinions will not affect us.
At the same time, we should not allow criticism to stop us from doing good. Everyone will face seasons of misunderstanding, rejection or criticism. Life is not always filled with applause. There will be days when your efforts are not recognised. There will be moments when people misunderstand your intentions. Keep doing what is right anyway.
We should also learn to be different from the crowd. Celebrate people even when they are no longer in the spotlight. Stand by your friends when they are going through difficult moments. Speak words that heal instead of words that destroy. Kindness and loyalty are qualities that never go out of style.
The truth is that character lasts longer than popularity. Fame, attention and public praise may come and go, but a good name is built through honesty, humility and consistency. People may forget your achievements, but they will remember how you treated them.
“Hosanna today, crucify him tomorrow” is more than a biblical expression. It is a lesson about everyday life and human behaviour. It reminds us not to chase applause or live for people’s approval because those things can change without warning. Instead, build your life on good character, kindness and purpose. When people praise you, be grateful. When they criticise you unfairly, do not lose yourself. The crowd will change, but your values should remain the same. Eventually, a life built on integrity will always stand stronger than a life built on applause.
