Preparing for Easter
This Sunday is known as Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week which ends with Easter the following Sunday. It commemorates Jesus' "triumphal entry" into Jerusalem to be betrayed, falsely accused, condemned and ultimately crucified. It is referred to as "Palm Sunday" because an enthusiastic crowd greeted Jesus by spreading their cloaks on the road, while others cut palm branches and laid them on the road as Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Hosanna is a Hebrew expression meaning "save us now." The crowd hailed Jesus as the "Son of David," the Messiah who they hope would save them from the Romans.
They were looking for an earthly king, a political leader, but Jesus came to be their heavenly king. The people wanted Jesus to rule their country and land, but Jesus wanted to rule their hearts and minds. They wanted Jesus to feed them and clothe them, but Jesus wanted to refresh their souls. They wanted Jesus to save them from the Romans, but Jesus wanted to save them from their sins and death.
And when they didn't get what they wanted, several days later they shouted, "Crucify him, crucify him!"
We may not be able to see it clearly, but the truth is that each of us has said with the crowd "Crucify Him. Crucify Him." Every deliberate sin, disobedient and rebellion against God is a loud or a whispered cry, "Yes. Crucify Him. Crucify Him."
They were looking for an earthly king, a political leader, but Jesus came to be their heavenly king. The people wanted Jesus to rule their country and land, but Jesus wanted to rule their hearts and minds. They wanted Jesus to feed them and clothe them, but Jesus wanted to refresh their souls. They wanted Jesus to save them from the Romans, but Jesus wanted to save them from their sins and death.
And when they didn't get what they wanted, several days later they shouted, "Crucify him, crucify him!"
We may not be able to see it clearly, but the truth is that each of us has said with the crowd "Crucify Him. Crucify Him." Every deliberate sin, disobedient and rebellion against God is a loud or a whispered cry, "Yes. Crucify Him. Crucify Him."