Are We Ready For Deliverance?
Good Morning Friends,
Jesus entered Jerusalem at a time the Jews were preparing to celebrate their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Their deliverance was not without battle and ten terrible plagues fell on Egypt before they could leave. The last of the ten plagues was the death of all the firstborn of animals and men. To save His people God made provision to pass over them. They had to kill lambs that were without blemish and sprinkle the blood on the lintels and doorposts of their homes. When the destroying angel saw the blood, he would pass over them since a death had already taken place. The Passover prophetically portrayed the deliverance from slavery and bondage to sin by the Messiah. Just as the Passover lamb gave the Israelites the chance of a new beginning, so our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, gives us the chance of a new beginning. Today is both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. Are We Ready For Deliverance?
Scripture: who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:6-11 (NRSV)
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
Isaiah 50:4-7 (NRSV)
Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place. ” When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies. Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us. ‘For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Luke 23:1-49 (NRSV)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9 (NRSV)
Message: Palm Sunday begins what is the most important week in history for it is also Passion Sunday and the story of the deliverance of humans. It begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus was known to travel on foot or by boat on a few occasions but this time He chose to ride on a colt for the first time. He was welcomed with the waving of palm branches and shouts of Hosanna meaning save. Biographers normally devote very little space to the death of their subjects, but the authors of the Gospels devote nearly a third of their length to the final week of Jesus’ life. Each one of them give a detailed account of the events leading to His suffering and death. The many processions taking place this morning in churches around the world is an enactment of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem proclaiming that He is the Messiah. He chose a procession, which was different from that of the Romans, where rulers or generals would ride on decorated horses or in golden chariots accompanied by officers in polished armor. Jesus’ procession was different because Jesus did not come to rescue the Jews as a warring king, but to save the world from sin and death as a gentle, humble and peace-loving king. The Messiah knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem, but He went anyway knowing that His suffering was for a purpose.
And So, Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem was a public revelation of the Messiah’s presence. It fulfilled in every detail the prophecies made concerning Him. Jesus entered Jerusalem fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy by riding on a colt that had never been ridden and we all know how difficult and stubborn donkeys are. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem was a revelation of the Messiah as the Passover Lamb. He entered Jerusalem at a time when people from all over the world had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The occasion provided them with the opportunity not only to hear and witness what was happening but to understand the truth that the Messiah was the Suffering Servant, the perfect Passover sacrifice. The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was the moment when Christ publicly declared that He is the Messiah by accepting the praise and worship of the people knowing exactly what that action would prompt of the religious leaders of the Romans.
Pray we share in the victory of our deliverance. Pray we rejoice in the forgiveness of sins made possible by Christ’s passion. Pray our worship is encouraged, uplifted and inspired by the captivating presence of grace. Pray that we are compelled by the prospect of grace. Pray we have a passion for God. Pray we are freed to glorify God, the Maker and Redeemer in that day when the battle is done, and the heavenly music begins. Pray in the mystery of the palm and the passion that Jesus be exalted. Pray that we share His powerful Word inside of us. Pray we promote love to God and to each other despite the tension.
Pray that our walk this day prepares us for what is to come. Pray we experience a God who created the power of life. Pray we never lose our focus on the cross and its message of salvation. Pray we have victory over separation.
Pray with rejoicing not just in the celebration of this day but also for the fact that Jesus did not run away from our darkness but instead conquered it. Pray that Jesus remembers us. Pray we have life on the inside that honors Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 