Prepare For Palm Sunday

As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” Luke 19:37-40 NASB

Luke 19:41-44 NASB When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

The first Palm Sunday would have transpired in a time of tremendously conflicting emotions, volatile political and societal dynamics combined with the looming possibility of a coming Messiah. There was pressure on people. There was pressure on systems and government. There was pressure on Jesus Christ. 

And it has been that way for thousands of years since.  

As we hear of wars and rumors of wars, as we see an increase in debauchery, and countless other horrors, as God’s children are being taught that lies, apathy and identity confusion are acceptable and promotable it may appear that evil is winning, but we don’t walk by sight. We see with eyes of faith.  do not doubt the Lord’s promise. Jesus Christ’s victory is assured. We have His Word on it. 

Holy Spirit is inviting us to accompany Him to the cross where God is reconciling a lost world back to Himself.  Jesus is engaging us to be co-labourers with Him in this task…. Salvation…..  My friends let us together be God’s people who stand with Him on the streets, in the workplace, in our families, day after day assured that Jesus commissions His people and by the strength of Holy Spirit we can rise to the tasks He sets ahead of us! 

Hebrews 12:1-3 NASB Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

Whoa ! that’s more than exciting while at the same time a bit nerve wracking to navigate because we still have the obligations of this life God’s placed us in - It’s not wrong to feel pressure; it’s actually unavoidable in our world at the moment. This atmosphere of pressure may surround us, but it doesn’t have to stop us instead we can turn our focus toward Jesus, our Help in an era of crisis, where pressure will grow us - actually heal us and change us into His image if we will accept the process, when we choose our mighty Saviour’s hand to walk through the battle with us! Hallelujah! Jesus has won the victory - the Lord has declared, “It is done!”

Revelation 16:17-18 NASB Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. 

When Jesus Christ exchanged our sin for His life, took on the cross to pay for our sin, He showed us perfect love. We are God’s children, wholly forgiven, covered by grace, empowered to do great work for His glory.

This is our identity. God’s people, may His kingdom come on earth as in heaven!