Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
Psalm 118:25-26
This week we are going to take a look at the events leading up to Christ death, burial, and resurrection. Everything in Christianity hangs on the events that happened this week. Without the death of Christ there is no forgiveness of sins. Without the resurrection of Christ, there is no proof that God accepted His sacrificial death as a substitution for our sins. Holy Week is the pivotal point of Christianity.
Today's passage deals with Triumphal Entry of Christ into Jerusalem. It is also known as Palm Sunday. The reason it is called the Triumphal Entry is that Jesus enters Jerusalem with the praise of the all the people. He was fulfilling two major prophecies in the Bible. In Matthew 21:4-5 Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 by riding into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. While He was doing this, the people came out singing "Hosana to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" The term "Hosana" means "Save now" which is referenced in Psalm 118:25-26. They laid their clothes and palm branches on the ground for him to ride over! It all seemed so great. But it wasn't.
The first thing to realize is that Jesus knows that this praise isn't real. This praise is for what Israel wanted Him to be--a conquering King. The "Hosanna" (Save Now!) was a plea for Him to rise up and throw over the Roman government. The second thing is to realize that Jesus knows He is riding to His death. These same people who are praising Him are the same people who will be calling out, "Crucify Him!" in a few days. He has set His face to go to Jerusalem because He knows it is the only way to cure our brokenness--He is the Lamb of God who will be the sacrifice for our sins. He will pay the price and die on the cross.
Our Lord is riding to His death and yet He goes forward. He goes forward because He loves us even when we are hoping that He will be something else to us other than He is. He loves us even when we have done the very things for which He had to die on the cross for. He loved us when we didn't love Him! What a Savior! Let us rise up with the true praise of "Hosanna!" and sing to the King of Heaven.
Blessings to you!
תגובות