Because the people had heard HIM, and witnessed HIS many signs, and wonders, they followed, or welcomed HIM to Jerusalem; anticipating even more than they understood! There was such a frenzy because of HIM that the high priests, the elders, the Pharisee's, and the Sadducee's, and other officials were very concerned, and unsure of how to move forward, as the people were certainly taken with HIM, thus, they were more determined than ever to frame HIM, and end the power HE had over so many...
Sadly, the salvation that the people of Jerusalem wanted that day was political, not spiritual. They were only interested in a temporary, worldly fulfillment of the messianic prophecies. They chose not to see the prophecies that said the Messiah would be “a man of sorrows” who would bear the griefs of His people and be crushed for their sins. His oppression and death were clearly predicted in Isaiah 53. Yes, Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for, and He accepted their shouts of “hosanna in the highest.” He was truly Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14). But the political conquest and final fulfillment of the David Covenant must await the second coming (Acts 1:11; Zechariah 14:4; Matthew 24:30; Titus 2:13). Before Jesus could take care of the political problems of His people, He had to take care of the sin problem.
As the people shouted “hosanna in the highest,” little did they know what that would actually mean. Jesus had come to save (Luke 19:10), but not in the manner they desired. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). Their cries for salvation and their demand that it come “now” were answered with the cross. God provided a spiritual salvation from the bondage of sin, bought at great cost to the Lord Jesus. But the blessed results of that salvation extend into eternity and far outweigh any temporary benefits we could experience in this world.
FAITH is synonymous with FAITHFULNESS! Because of our FAITH, we ARE FAITHFUL unto the bitter end! As is written, But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved--- MATTHEW 24: 13. This means we endure, and persevere through ALL tests, trials, and tribulations, now, and those yet to come, NEVER waning in FAITH, and NEVER returning to our former ways! The FAITHFUL KNOW THE LORD, and NOTHING being whispered or shouted in the world can cause us to doubt, or to step off THE PATH, for we KNOW what is coming, and HE whom HAS told us! We are SURE even when we are challenged, and we CONTINUE to exist as citizens of HEAVEN, despite the world's attempts to deny THE TRUTH...
What *GOD* HAS done for us IS AWESOME, INCREDIBLE, and more than WONDROUS, and SOLELY, BECAUSE OF LOVE! HE IS A TENDER *GOD*, FULL of compassion, forgiveness, and hope to share HIS GLORY FOREVER with us! We have done NOTHING to warrant HIS GIFT(S), but HIS LOVE IS SO PURE, and SO INFINITELY PERFECT that the ONLY way past it is to deny/reject it/HIM! HE came as Man TO SAVE us from ourselves, and the ruler of this world, in which case, HE suffered humbly, nobly, and horrifically, FOR us! And still, there exists nonacceptance, and refusal, mostly because people convince themselves that they can only believe what their senses can prove, although THE LORD CAN be found in EVERYTHING...
Overall, Palm Sunday is more than taking ourselves to Church, palm branches, and shouting HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST: it is taking HIM, and HIS GIFT TO THE HEART, and existing IN HIS WILL for the remainder of our days! ONLY in this way do we give HIM HIS GLORY, PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, and HONOUR HIM sincerely! And in this IS the humbled kindness we give to others, THAT HE IS SEEN, HEARD, and FELT...
LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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