Palm Sunday…Hallelujah!
April 9, 2022 No. 10
The Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem marks the high point of his earthly ministry. Jesus was praised by the people of Jerusalem as he made his entrance. Interestingly enough, Jesus rode upon a donkey, not a white charger (horse). Jesus came to conquer men’s souls, not to overthrow any governments or to wage a physical battle.
The people of the city shouted after Jesus, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! (Matthew 21:9 CEB). I can’t even imagine the volume of cheering that rang in the air that day. Because Jesus’ message was about the love of God the Father, and that it was meant for ALL humankind, Christ’s inspiration resonated with the “common man.” Before Jesus walked the earth the Israelite (Jewish Nation) appeared to have “cornered the market” on the love of God. But Jesus?
Jesus did not limit his audience to any particular group of people. Ethnicity was of no consequence to Jesus. The LORD interacted well with all people, because “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it” (John 3:17 TLB).
So, on that first “Palm Sunday” Jesus entered Jerusalem with a type of “Pomp and Circumstance.” Jesus had impressed a lot of people who made up what we might call “the rank and file,” or the “everyday” population. Think of it: Jesus had healed and raised people from the dead, he had interacted with the Roman and Jewish officials, he had spoken to them by quoting from Jewish history. Jesus gave all these people HOPE! Hope that things could be better than what life was offering them before Jesus arrived on the scene.
When we read on, Matthew takes us to a place where we often-times do not recognize Jesus. “Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves” (Matthew 21:12 NIV). Considering the personality of Christ, I am typically seeing him as my loving friend and master. But Jesus had his limitations as well. He kicked the money changers out of his temple! Jesus had had enough of watching the desecration of the Holy Place.
Well Jesus didn’t do anything to endear himself to the religious leaders in charge of the temple—those who made up the earthly rules of their day. Humankind was only a few days away from creating a legacy that has lasted for over two millennia and will continue to be celebrated until the Master returns in glory! There is a song that my brother and I (the former “Messengers 2”) used to sing. The song is entitled, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSW5uO4kKto and it speaks about Christ’s Second Coming (the Parousia).
King Jesus would have a few days of adulation from his “subjects” before they would turn on him and seek his demise. Please be in prayerful thought about what position Jesus holds in your heart. God Bless…
