PALM SUNDAY
Here HE comes! Not on a prancing steed and not wearing royal robes. Humbly, on the clothes of the poor and needy. The Messiah was He….only the ones calling out Hosanna! would soon turn and yell, "Crucify Him" when He refused to lead them in a massive revolt against the Roman occupiers. They were looking for a different kind of King.
You can't please everyone.
Jesus' reason for riding into Jerusalem in the first place was to make public who He was (THE MESSIAH) as told in Old Testament prophecy. This is where Jesus no longer tells the disciples to keep quiet about Him. It's time to shout & worship who He is, to everyone!
As Christians, we celebrate doing that very thing today.
Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your KING comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, on the foal of a donkey!".
Jesus instructed two of his disciples to go into the village ahead and find the donkey and the colt tied together and bring them back to him. They did as told and when they brought them back, took off their cloaks and Jesus sat on them.
Ever rode on a donkey? What about one that's never been "broken"? {JESUS YOU ARE the LORD!}
As Jesus rode along… the crowds went ahead of Him. They threw down their cloaks. They cut branches and laid them down! They shouted, "HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST!".
Man, I wish I could've been there!
He entered the Temple where He would teach, heal & run out those who were turning it into a "den of thieves". Imagine Jesus flipping tables because that's exactly what He did! His Holiness in this act is a challenge to every person to be honest in everyway (to me, anyways).
God sees everything.
Thanks to those shouting that day as Jesus rode into Jerusalem, "Hosanna!" I'm reminded that God is not some customized entity that can do or not do the things I beg of Him when I'm in need. HE IS THE MESSIAH! WHO CAME TO SAVE THE WORLD! HE TOOK AWAY MY SIN & YOURS!
Let's celebrate Jesus….
HOSANNA! HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST!
Lord,
Thank you for my salvation. Your journey into Jerusalem that day marks a week of preparation for the sacrifice of your life for mine. A debt I can never repay. May I never be the same…because of You!
Amen