March 24; Palm/Passion Sunday; Texts: Psalm 118:19-29;
Zechariah 9:9-12; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew
26:1-27:66; Title: Hosanna, Lord, Save!
Rev. Tim Beck
Grace, mercy, and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Today
we victoriously waved our palms because Jesus rode into Jerusalem 1:11 ).
Receiving Him is not just accepting
the facts of the historical Jesus; it is also to ask, do I receive him as He
is? In His day many people wished for a
Saviour, a “Jesus” from Caesar and Herod. They wanted personal freedom and
political independence. They resented a foreign emperor and the Idumean’s
taxes. If only Jesus knocked them silly and took charge… imitating them. Do we want this kind of Jesus? But Jesus did
not enter Jerusalem
He
came unto his own, and his own received him not (Jn 1:11 ).
Second, do we receive Jesus for what we want of him, not for what He wants for
us, that is, for the best things? Shortly before Palm Sunday Jesus fed a
multitude of hungry people; but when folks tried to force Jesus to be a bread
king (Jn 6:35 ) they
received him not. Yes, we pray He
supplies daily bread, house, home, spouse, fields, cattle, and all our goods;
but life is more than what we eat, drink and wear. Life is much more than so
called “quality of life.” Jesus fasted; we too may deny ourselves something of
this world during Holy Week, to remember who gives daily bread, and to hunger
for the bread of life. Is not Jesus the glorious king, the best king, who bids
us to enter a holy kingdom? Let us repent our lack of trust that He cares for
our earthly needs.
He
came unto his own, and his own received him not (Jn 1:11 ). Third, will we bear the cost of
following heaven’s king? Pilate knew Jesus told the truth. He was no danger to
the kings of this world. But Pilate rejected the eternal to preserve a short
political career. Jesus gave His life for
the world, that all might receive an abiding fellowship with God as
“our Father.” Is not Jesus the glorious king, the best king who gives us His
holy kingdom? Let us repent our fear to speak for God.
He brought heaven’s peace to earth,
God’s good will to sinners. He bids us enter the eternal, the whole, the pure.
Jesus brought what transcends our sinful, temporal, and self-centered
existence. Jesus brings the kingdom of heaven, the rule of love and life
without end or measure. Oh, what a
glorious and good king! And Jesus, the crucified, the Pascal Lamb, the risen
king of heaven also reigns over the things on earth; and He will see you
through. Knowing how little our faith, He gives us crosses to bear in the
earthly kingdom that we cry out to him, and lay hold of the promise of an
eternal kingdom. Knowing how anxious we are about the necessities of daily
life, He tests us to show where security lies. Knowing how easily we compromise,
he teaches faithfulness and gives the means to strengthen us daily. The Son of
God became man so that you and I inherit the kingdom of God
King Jesus applies the healing salve
of His death to you; for after He kills us by the law He raises us by grace.
Grace is like monarchs of yore who extended their scepter to rebels that they
might but touch it and live. Jesus’ scepter is forgiveness, and takes the form
of body and blood, of water and word, of glad proclamation of pardon extended
to you. The rightful king of heaven answers your cry, Hosanna, Lord Save! And
He seats us at His feast, feeding us the bread of life so that we reign with
Him, sharing His heavenly glory.
Behold He who reveals the glory of heaven upon the futility of the cross.
Behold, He calls you to faith, because He also reigns on earth. On earth, He
reigns in humility until His return, so that sinners receive divine pardon, to
enter the enduring kingdom. On earth Jesus rode into Jerusalem
The peace of God which
passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our
Lord. (Amen)
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