Georgia Veterans State Park, Cordele, Georgia
They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” ~ John 12:13
Today begins the Christian season known as Holy Week. It runs from today, Palm Sunday, through Easter, and it includes the final teachings of Jesus, Maundy Thursday (when He instituted communion during His celebration of the Jewish Passover), Good Friday (when He was crucified), Holy Saturday (the waiting day) and Easter (when Jesus rose again – Praise God!!)
Today, we visited First Baptist Church of Cordele. What a lovely congregation they have! I don’t think we’ve ever felt so welcome! It began out in the parking lot, and carried through into the sanctuary, and not only were we greeting warmly, everyone felt genuine. So much like God intends us to be! And there were people of all ages. And it was everything we desperately needed today.
But although the music was full of praise, the message was on Good Friday. ☹ I guess we understand that. In churches that don’t have Maundy Thursday or Good Friday services, they have to get this very important message in. Plus, this Pastor was working on an eight-week series for Holy Week, so he had to cover Friday and Saturday today.
In wondering what to do about today’s “Monday Message” (as is my habit), I’ve felt led to do short messages on each of the Holy Week days. I don’t know why. Certainly it would be easier to not do that, but He’s not letting it go. I’ve already been through my “Fine!” stage (also as is my habit) because it took me so long to complete the SAM post, and I’m willing and ready to go now. (It’s actually Good Friday as I write this)
Palm Sunday.
This is the day that Jesus asked His appointed apostles to get Him a donkey so He could ride into Jerusalem. So what’s the big deal?
First of all, this is the beginning of Jesus’ last week on earth. He’s got things to teach and points to make – both to His chosen Twelve, the apostles (meaning – one sent on a mission with authorization to act on behalf of the sender) and to the Jewish and Gentile community, and He’s running out of time.
Today marked yet another fulfilled prophecy in a long list of fulfilled prophecies – over 100 in fact! Riding in on a donkey comes from the book of Zechariah, Chapter 9, verse 9. Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
So the mechanics (if I can call it that) of riding on the donkey into a throng of screaming shouting people, was fulfilled from a prophecy uttered about 550 years before it happened. Now, some would say that Jesus knew about this prophecy and just did what He knew scripture said, but He didn’t control the mob of people. He didn’t pay them or ask them to welcome Him into town as their Savior. So for those of you who may be skeptical, how do you explain it other than a fulfillment of prophecy?
In Matthew, we also read that they called Him the Son of David. What does that mean? Again, it’s a fulfillment of prophecy. This time from roughly 1,000 years ago, when God promised David that He would establish David’s kingdom forever. Technically, we could go back even further to see God’s promise, but we’ll stop at David. In II Samuel 7:12-13 & 16, the prophet Nathan told David (among other things), The LORD declares to you that the LORD Himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever.
The people were rejoicing over Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem for reasons they couldn’t understand at the time. They believed Jesus to be the promised Messiah – and He was. But they believed He would take His throne and establish Israel into a ‘one nation, under God’ again on earth and do away with Roman rule. They expected Him to punish everyone who’d ever slighted them. In fact, they believed the Messiah would usher in a Jewish rule over the world. They weren’t entirely wrong in their belief, just wrong in the timing and the purpose. They forgot the promise made to Abraham that all nations will be blessed through you. ~ Genesis 12:3b
They forgot the part about the necessity of the sacrifice.
So, rejoice over Jesus’ entrance into your life! But don’t forget the sacrifice He made for you.
It’s been so long ago, we can’t even remember what we did today, other than Blaine went out for a bike ride and brought me back roses! He found them thrown in the grass where the wedding was yesterday and picked up three of them for me! Such a sweetheart!
