Hosanna To The King

A Grand Entrance

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 

                                                                          (John 12:12-13 KJV)

The beginning of Holy Week...

Jesus is treated like a king as he enters Jerusalem to celebrate the passover. The people go out to greet him shouting Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel!

Ah, yes! What a grand entrance. But, how is he treated by the end of the week? 

He is betrayed by his treasurer; one of his followers.

He is denied.

He is deserted.

He is tortured.

He is crucified.

What are you doing this week? Although most congregations will not be having any worship services in their buildings; will you be remembering what our Lord suffered for us? Will you remember as you celebrate Easter Sunday in your homes that there would be no Easter; there would have been no resurrection without Good Friday; without the events of Holy Week?

Let us thank God for sending us His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sins and remember this week and every day of the year, with thanksgiving, for the events of Holy Week.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

His Passion

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

                                                                            (Matt 21:8-9 KJV)

Today we enter Holy Week. On this Palm Sunday we also celebrate Passion Sunday during worship. I will narrate the whole story; from Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem with palm branches waving to his burial. We do this in order so that as many people as possible can hear the passion story. We will not have as many at worship as we will on Easter Sunday; but, we will have some who will not be with us on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday to hear the story. They will be there to hear of his rising from the grave on Easter morning; but, they will not be there to hear of the actual sacrifice that he made that precipitated his resurrection. Without death there can be no resurrection. Without Good Friday; without the events of Holy Week, there can be no Easter Sunday. Therefore; on Palm Sunday we also remember his passion for us. We remember that because he loves us he was willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried and crucified for us. 

Join us at Christ Lutheran or your local congregation this morning and throughout Holy Week as we remember all that our Lord has done for us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Passionate Contrast

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!”

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”

                                                   John 12:12-15 NIV

We enter Holy Week singing and shouting Hosanna; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, with such great passion! What a start contrast between the praises sung today and the fears and the passionate tears of the people who loved Jesus by Friday.

Our faith can often be like that. One day we are so passionate about our love for Jesus and would give everything for him. But, by the next morning our passions may be turned to fear as wonder where he is. Why is he not here to be with us? Has he deserted us?  He has not deserted us. He will never leave us. All too often, it is we who desert him. It is we who betray him. It is we who deny him. 

By Friday, his followers will be in tears. But; for today, let us rejoice without fear for our king has come!

God's Peace - Pr. J