HOW WILL YOU WELCOME YOUR KING?

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 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!”

John 12:12-13

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

WRITER’S NOTE: After today, I will be on a ship and heading back to the United States. I will try and post while away as much as possible but if for some reason connectivity does not allow it, I will be posting daily again once I arrive home.

It was the start of the last week of Jesus’ life. He had done so much in such a short period of time.

Teaching and preaching. Healing. Miracle working. Resurrecting. Rebuking. Loving.

He had shown the people that He indeed was the long awaited Messiah, the One the prophet Isaiah had written about:

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.  Isaiah 9:6-7

The people of Israel were sick and tired of the Roman oppression they were under. They had been waiting for their promised king to arrive, and not just any king but the King of kings, the One who would come to free them and restore their liberty.

Now when kings would come to Jerusalem, they would get a royal welcome from the people who traditionally would line the path the king traveled, waving palm branches, symbols of victory, and laying them on the path as the king entered the city. Some would lay their cloaks down instead of palm branches.

 But this was no ordinary king arriving to Jerusalem. The words of the people lining the path attested to that with their words:

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the King of Israel!”

The people had come to welcome the promised King of Israel as they prepared to celebrate the Passover. Their history knew well of God’s willingness to deliver them from the hands of oppressors and the Passover symbolized just that as God freed their ancestors from the grip of Egyptian captivity through His power and the leadership of Moses. Now they were ready to be delivered again and saw Jesus as the One who would bring it.

There was only one problem. For Jesus was coming to deliver them alright, but not from the oppression of the Romans. He was coming to deliver them from their sins and save them from the wrath and judgment that would come as a result of their transgressions. The people cried out, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the King of Israel,” but the truth of the matter is that they were the ones who were about to be blessed by His coming.

Friends, how are you welcoming your King today? How do you welcome Him every day?

For Jesus is riding into our lives each and every day triumphantly and victorious. Will you shout your praises for Him and appreciate Him for all He has done, all He is doing, and all He is yet to do? Will you lay down your life for Him, like the palm branches placed before Him on the path to Jerusalem, and allow Him to be the King over you and your life? Will you invite His Spirit into your heart, mind, and soul and allow all of Him to be all of who you are? Will you continuously shout “Hosanna” to Him for how He has delivered you from your sins?

Friends, we have a Savior who deserves all of the honor and glory and praise that we can deliver and His name is Jesus. In Him, we have an eternal hope that can never be taken away. Celebrate this, not just on Palm Sunday, but every day you’re blessed with.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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