"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!”Jhn:12:13
Palm Sunday concludes the Lenten Season which is followed by Holy Week, which recounts the events leading up to Jesus' arrest ,trial, crucifixion death and resurrection.
The Palms and Passion
In many Churches Palm Sunday is a two part observance, many churches, especially the more liturgical fellowships, divide the service into two parts; the first part will be called "the Liturgy of the Palms" and the second part being "the Liturgy of the Passion" , for this reason some churches might call this observance "Palm-Passion Sunday" .
Palm Sunday is sometimes referred to as the "Triumphal Entry" , but in many respects this is not really accurate, for some of the same people who waved the palm branches and shouted "Hosanna!" on that Sunday at Jesus' entry are the same ones who by Friday were calling out "crucify him!" as Jesus stood before the Roman Governor and the assembled religious leaders.
Your King Comes
For some in the crowd that day, as Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem it may have seemed so, it may have seemed as if all the hopes of Israel were about to be fulfilled . They all had their hopes and expectations. To the Jerusalem crowed and even to Jesus' own disciples, Jesus' entry into the city was filled with an air of rejoicing and the prospect of hopes fulfilled the Messianic Kingdom was they hoped, was about to be established. They saw Jesus fulfilling the prophecy of Prophet Zechariah, before their own eyes.
"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" Zech:9:9
It was their hope that all the things which they desired would now be realized,they saw this as their time of restoration; of recompense, they they wanted change and they wanted it now.
The people had heard the Prophetic writings read to the in the Synagogues and in temple worship, they knew that the Messiah's kingdom meant reward for the people of Israel.
"The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: "Say to Daughter Zion, 'See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.'" Isa:62:11
The hope that the Messianic kingdom had arrived is seen in the waving of the palm branches. The Palm branch was used to build the Tabernacles, or booths, in which the people of Israel stayed during the eight day Feat of Tabernacles. This Old Covenant Holy day observance had become identified with the Messianic kingdom thru it being mentioned by the Prophet Zechariah as being observed at Jerusalem during the Messiahs reign.
" Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord
will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. This
will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations
that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles." Zech:16-19
Now!
Even the joyful shouts of "Hosanna" speaks of this desire to have what they want, "Hosanna" literally means "save now!". It was not just a shout of acclimation but, a demand. They were telling Jesus what they wanted from him and when they wanted it.The people wanted to benefit from Jesus ascension to power.
The Cross
But fortunately for all of us Jesus did not come that day to ascend the Throne of David and become the King of Israel that the people who shouted in the streets that day. Jesus came not to bring a political solution and military might. Jesus came to Jerusalem to ascend the cross not the Throne, not to wear a golden crown but a bloody crown of thorns, Jesus was there to suffer the Passion of the cross . The cross was ever present ,even there among the palm branches which were waved in streets that day among the shouts of "Hosanna" , the cross was there and Jesus knew it.
Jesus came into Jerusalem to deal with the estrangement between God and humanity which was brought on by humanities individual and collective sin. The cross was there among the palms.
I Must Go
Jesus knew why he was come to Jerusalem .Jesus had no delusions , he was not beguiled by the celebratory procession, and the acclimation and rejoicing . Jesus had come knowing his fate, that cross lay ahead in a matter of a few days but rather than shunning it; Jesus was determined to face it and finish the work that Father had given him.
Jesus was resolute to go to the Holy City, he was fixed upon accomplishing for us what none of us could accomplish for our selves so great his love for the Father and each and all of us and for him the time was drawing near, knowing what lay beyond the passion of the cross and his saving work, he knew his time of glory was come.
"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem."Lk:9:51
Jesus said "I must go" , for only in Jerusalem would he die, Jesus knew the necessity of his going to Jerusalem, he was determined to face the passion of the cross and atone for the sins of humanity.
"Nevertheless I must go on my way to-day and to-morrow and the day
following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." Lk:13:33
For weeks he had begun to prepare his disciples for what was to come.
"From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must
go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the
chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed
and on the third day be raised to life." Matt:16:21
Laid it Down to take it Up
So great was, and is, the love of Jesus for each and all of us that he willing laid his life down so that none be left out from entering into eternal life. It was by his will and choice that Jesus would die, he would face the passion of the cross. Jesus was not compelled by law or any power , or any force which could induce the very Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity to condescend to our humanity that we might have life.
Jesus laid his life down willing in the death of the cross to take it up again in the glory of the resurrection. All of this was the will God the Father.
"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."Jhn:10:17-18
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."Jhn:10:17-18
The Cross Among the Palms
The passion of the cross was there super-imposed upon the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, he was come for that purpose to face the passion of the cross and to finish the work of salvation for each and all us that glory be given to Father and life to each and all of us. Jesus saw the Cross among the Palms...Amen
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.
2101 Old National Pike.
Washington,
Pennsylvania. www.gcfountainoflife.org
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