The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!”
John 12:12-13
This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and if we have ever needed a Palm Sunday, it’s now. The people shouted “Hosanna!” which in the Hebrew language means to save, to rescue, or a savior. It is a shout of praise and acclamation made in acknowledgement of the Messiah, our Savior. An acknowledgement of victory!
Palm Sunday moves us into Holy Week, the Passion (Suffering) of Jesus. In the week to come Jesus would experience anguish, setback, adversity, danger, and risk. Jesus would be tortured, rejected, and socially isolated from His closest followers and family. Sounds like some of the emotions that we are experiencing today.
As we go through sickness we shout – Hosanna! Mass shootings – Hosanna! Racial violence – Hosanna! Suffering – Hosanna! Save us, we pray! We cry out to the only One who can rescue us, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! The One who knows a little something about suffering. That’s why He is able to help us in our time of need.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15
What happened on that day so long ago marked a victory in the making. Jesus didn’t ride into Jerusalem to get the victory. He rode in from a place of victory! There’s a difference. The people hailed Jesus as their king, a revolutionary act for sure, but they did it because they were ready for change. They did it because of what they had seen, heard, and had come to know. That Jesus is our Messiah! The One who has come to save us. And the victory that Jesus secured was for all of us.
Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5
Because Jesus was fully victorious, we now have the victory! Sin has no power over us, except what we give it. Death doesn’t even have the last say because Jesus conquered it, too!
The One who conquered sin and death, the One who overcame the enemy of our souls, is the One who taught us how to succeed against all odds.
[Jesus speaking] In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”
John 16:33
May we lift up our hands, as they did the palms, in praise and adoration, joining in the chorus crying out “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” Or sing what the saints of old used to sing, “Victory is mine, victory is mine, victory today is mine!”
See you on Sunday as we continue our sermon series Fully, with the Palm Sunday message: Fully Victorious!
Holy Week: Join us for Maundy Thursday, March 28, 6:30 pm. We will have a sacred time of handwashing and celebrate Holy Communion together!
This year Pastor Rocky Marlowe has put together a service of Word and music for Good Friday, March 29, 5:00pm. Join us for the Famous Last Sayings of Christ.
Breaking Free! After Easter we will begin a new study that will build your faith, equip, and empower you to live free and stay free – to be whole, restored, transformed and ready to impact your world with a message of hope. The book, Keys to Freedom, is an 8-week interactive journey with God to explore how we can hear from God and live the victorious lives God meant for us to live! If you’d like to get the book in advance it’s available from Mercy Multiplied Ministries at: Keys to Freedom Study | Mercy Multiplied or on Amazon. We will have some books on hand as well. The first class will be Wednesday, April 3. We’ll share dinner together as usual at 5:45pm, and class will be from 6:30-7:30pm.
Vision for 2024:
A House United:
Strong Faith, Strong Families, Strong Future!
Blessings,
Pastor Linda