Reflections from the Pulpit: Palm Sunday revelation

Posted 3/30/23

Holy Week starts in celebration of King Jesus. Palm Sunday: A massive crowd cheering the King!

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Reflections from the Pulpit: Palm Sunday revelation

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Holy Week starts in celebration of King Jesus. Palm Sunday: A massive crowd cheering the King! But midweek, something turns. The celebration ends in the betrayal and death of Jesus. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday bring the conspiracy kiss of a friend, illegal trial by the Sanhedrin, death-sentence by corrupt political authorities, scourging at the hands of sinful men, mocking royal robe and crown of thorns – and the long nights of His burial and darkness of the tomb. Our Lord Jesus Christ enters the gates of death for us in the only form possible: The union of God and Man. He whom death cannot touch, incarnate with those whom death has already touched, bearing that eternal curse for us.

To understand Palm Sunday, go with me for a moment, back to Jerusalem, circa 30 AD. It’s the high festival of Passover. Millions of faithful Jews from the known world gather to feast, sacrifice, and worship. Together they confess the God of Israel – the one who delivers from bondage. And word is on the wind, “God’s Messiah is here!” He’s worked miracles: He has the same power that parted the Red Sea. The power that overthrew the Pharoah’s army and hosts of darkness. Maschiach is here!

Anticipation floats in the air, flowing everywhere. Hearts flame with hope: “Could this be…?” The distant sound of the Ram’s horn. A crashing, swelling crescendo of praise – sounding horns, shouting voices, like the roar of mighty oceans. He’s here! He’s riding down the Mount of Olives! Word spreads from one, to another, to another, and another – a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand, two hundred thousand voices cry out. HOSANNA! Coats and palms fill the air, cast down for the king to ride on without touching the ground. Blessed is Messiah who comes in the name of the LORD! Deliverance is here!

The crowd is crying out three things: First: HOSANNA – a form of Hebrew Hoshiah-na: Save! Save, please. And, praise you God, for your salvation. Second: BLESSED IS HE – a form of praise from Psalm 118:25-26 – messianic in nature. They are giving prayer and praise to God’s Messiah. And then, thirdly, even more apparent – they come right out and say it, “Blessed is the King of Israel!” Blessed is the One who has the right to David’s Throne! In context, it is incredible. Jesus rides on and takes the prophecy of Zechariah to himself: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” Look, children – believe and live! And do not fear.

The King comes on a donkey’s foal: He is coming humbly. He is coming as Savior, the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world, now in human time to fulfil the ancient promise. He is not coming on the White Horse, as King and Judge to wrap up the current age, and usher in the Messianic Kingdom. He comes now on a donkey’s foal, riding on to die. He carries teardrops – not the crown, scepter, and sword. That time will come – when the world sees Him riding in, banners snapping in the wind of the cosmos, robe glowing with the words: King of Kings, Lord of Lords! And a sword flowing from His mouth – the Word of God – destroying all lawlessness with the brightness of His coming (2 Thess. 2:8, Rev. 19:15-16). But this is not then. So He says, “Do not fear!” “Turn to Me.” “Receive the salvation I bring.” “The kingdom is here, ‘Repent and believe the Good News!’”

It’s fascinating. They are crying, “Hoshiah-na!” “Save! Save now, I pray. Praise you for your salvation!” But are they willing to accept the salvation that He brings? Or do they desire a material kingdom of prosperity and personal blessing? This is the turn the changes celebration of Christ to rejection of Him – the turn inward, to expectation of reward, and self-defined salvation. This is the turn that puts Christ on the Cross, and self on a doomed throne.

C.H. Spurgeon says, “If His first coming does not give us eternal life, His second coming will not. If we do not hide in his wounds when He comes as our Savior, there will be no hiding place when He comes as our Judge.”

Jesus takes prophecy to himself, perfectly fulfilling the promise of God. He rides on as our righteous substitute, our saving King. He goes willingly to the cross, for you and me. As John later writes, “Here is Love: Not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and gave His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Palm Sunday faces us with truth – ever and always. Jesus is the kind of King who confronts us in humility. To enter His kingdom we must bow low, to His humility, surrendering our own self and sin, identifying with His death, so that He might raise us up in newness of life – born again in eternal life, forever free from the second death. Alive in the glory of His light! All who receive this lowly King in faith will escape judgment and the wrath to come. Bow low, friends. Let us give up the pride of our own false salvation and accept the surrender of His true one. Amen.

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