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 a battle. 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. Passover prophetically portrayed our deliverance from slavery and bondage to sin. Just as the Passover lamb gave the Israelites the chance of a new beginning, so our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, the Messiah gives us the chance of a new beginning. Today is both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday and over last few years lot the events in most of our lives have posed a challenge, so I wonder, Are We Ready For Our 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)
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)
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)
Message: Most great memories last only a generation or two but in today’s text we are prompted to remember something from generation to generation forever.
That means remembering something beyond the palm crosses we have made in celebration of King Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem 2000 years ago. Friends, get this, the focus is to be on Jesus and the Way. And we are not only to remember Him, but take him all in, as today, we celebrate the return of the victorious King to Jerusalem and more. So, imagine hearing the crowds in the streets calling out for Jesus to save…to rescue…to deliver….to rise up. But do not linger here for we are to be drawn with an unimaginable power to the cross and Jesus’ coming victory over death. Friends, in a few days we will imagine hearing the sound of the water in the basin Jesus uses to wash the feet of each disciple. We will imagine hearing the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the cup. We will imagine hearing the footsteps as we walk with Jesus to the place of the olive press. And here we will imagine hearing Jesus praying, while his disciples sleep. And the imagination will take us to hear the guards…the words of betrayal…the insanity of the arrest and trial. Then it is as if we actually hear the lash of the whip and the pounding of the nails. And we listen to what Jesus says…what Jesus breathes on the cross. But first today we enter Jerusalem with Jesus. Today is Passion Sunday and also Palm Sunday and they go together because they cannot be separated. And they demonstrate just how difficult it is for good and evil, for victory and defeat, to exist in such close proximity. Friends, we too are to join in memory of a revival going on in Jerusalem on that day 2000 years ago when Jesus was ending his earthly ministry but starting something that would extend out to all creation. We are to experience Jesus’ riding upon a donkey as people threw and waved palm branches in his path. We too are to welcome and praise Jesus as a conquering hero. But there is more, for we too are drawn to the cross. We too are being drawn to the center point of all History. This place where the Body of a man…the body of God is broken so that creation itself might be reformed… here we discover that Christ’s separation was intentional…. that Jesus died on purpose so we might live. Friends, a conquering King has to ask the question how many casualties one is willing to take. Jesus answered the question for us because he knew that the heart of his ministry and ours is to be about saving lives.
And So, 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. Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem proclaiming that He is the Messiah is interesting in how it prepares us for deliverance. You see, 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. 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 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 and 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.
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 believe and share what is true and sweet and abundant fruit in us. Pray we promote love to God and to each other despite the tension.
Pray that our walk on this day and during Holy Week prepares us for what is to come.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 