Pastor's Column 3/24/2024 - Palm Sunday

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“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.” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first His disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about Him and that these things had been done.”  John 12:13-16, NLT

“The Lighted Sign to The Resurrection!”

It was after the Sabbath and likely Sunday afternoon when Jesus arrived at the city limits of Jerusalem before a throng of people. Rumors were rampart, that Jesus would be entering the city’s walls; and that this was the prelude to His becoming the earthly king they had awaited over five centuries. Customarily when a king entered a city or province in ancient times, they rode in a lavish chariot emblazoned with gold and regal ornamentation. The armor bearers preceding the chariot, held swords fashioned to precision by the most skilled smiths of the trade. The crowd was confident that Jesus was such a king, who had come to liberate the Jews under Roman occupation in Judea. They believed the prophecy of Zecharia concerning the coming of the Messiah, justified their claims of an earthly king. Jesus came, as was prophesied, riding a young colt, the foal of a donkey. They shouted the right affirmation, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” But Jesus would be more than a provincial king; He would be Messiah, “ruling the nations.” As Jesus listened to the accolades and affirmations on that first Palm Sunday, He realized that even His disciples missed the moment. The Scripture says the disciples did not understand the full meaning of His mission, until after His Resurrection. Our praises now, as sincere as they are, cannot compare with how we can praise Jesus when we realize the victories He has brought in our lives. Palm Sunday is the lighted sign that points us to the Resurrection. It is not the volume of noise that signifies our praise, but the clarity; the meaning of the song’s message, that leads us to the one Resurrection!