The people waved palm branches and chanted “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” as Jesus rode into Jerusalem… were they so desperate for change they forgot a part of the scriptures they knew so well? 

Palm Sunday is a festive day in the Christian church.

There’s something wonderfully anticipatory about Palm Sunday because we know that in one week we’ll celebrate Easter also called Resurrection Sunday.

Children will often march through the church during services waving palm branches as the congregation sings, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

As I was reading the biblical account of this event, I noted this verse in Luke 19:38

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

comes from Psalm 118:26.  So of course, I had to read the whole chapter of Psalm 118 to get the full picture.  One of the things I like to do is pull up Bible Gateway on my laptop and see parallel versions of the Bible.  Sometimes reading the passages in a different version brings new understanding. Today it brought more than understanding to me… my heart was deeply moved.

The first portion of Psalm 118:26 says, Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  These are the words we hear, sing, or speak on Palm Sunday.  The verse continues with: We bless you from the house of the Lord.  That is what the throngs of people outside of Jerusalem were doing as they waved their palm flags and laid out their “red carpet” of coats for Jesus, which we emulate in our worship services.  

This is happy stuff… or so it seems.  

If the people were referencing that particular scripture verse they must have known the verse that came next. Or did they?

The Lord is God, shining upon us.
    Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
Psalm 118:27

Do you see it, too?

Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.

As I read those words, I realized immediately that if the people were calling for Jesus to be their king… they missed verse 27.   Somehow they did not calculate the price that would be paid for their freedom.  It’s pretty evident they thought that Jesus would free them from the tyrannical rule of the Romans, as a flesh and blood king.

For years I have rejoiced on Psalm Sunday, enjoyed my fair share of palm-waving with the kids, and singing my Hosannas.  Is our Lord not deserving of that?  Yes!!  In fact, Jesus himself said that if we didn’t sing his praises, even the rocks would cheer (Luke 19:40).

This year, my Hosannas will be different.  There will be plenty of singing praises, but in my heart, there will be songs of thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving for the undeserved freedom that came at such great cost.  Gratitude to Jesus who knew he would be bound by cords on the cross.  The ultimate altar of sacrifice.

Jesus… the ultimate servant King.

This is the day his humanity and his God-head meet and he steps forward onto that “red carpet” knowing full well the price he’s going to pay so we can experience what he has experienced with the Father.   Knowing that his blood will pay the price for our sinful lives so, we too can have fellowship with the Father.

Palm Sunday is the approach to the altar of sacrifice.

In the Old Testament, Abraham in obedience brought his son Issac to the altar as a sacrifice.  God was pleased with his complete obedience and provided a lamb in Issac’s place.  On Palm Sunday we are marching towards the altar with a lamb, the ultimate perfect lamb.  Jesus.  There is no replacement lamb this time.  Jesus is the perfect lamb of God.  He is the ultimate sacrifice for you and for me.

Usually, we think of Good Friday as the moment that Jesus lays it all down.  As I contemplate the events of the triumphal procession into Jerusalem, in my mind the sacrifice began the moment Jesus sat on the young donkey he asked his disciples to bring to him.  At that moment, the very thing for which he wore humanity was sealed. It was the antithesis to how things appeared that day.  What looked to the crowd as a triumphal moment of their king riding in to overtake the Romans, instead was the moment of unimaginable humility.

The ultimate display of grace.

The most extraordinary example of selfless love.

As we begin this week, referred to as Holy Week, our hearts should be filled with gratitude.  Humble gratitude. Overwhelming gratitude for the love to endure not only the torturing events of the week. But, even more, because Jesus Christ would humble himself, even to death, to take on the punishment you and I deserve for our sins.

What does a heart overflowing with gratitude do?

Sing praise.

Sing praise to God… rejoicing in Jesus our Savior.

We’re making a processional to the altar with the perfect lamb, Jesus.  The one whom in perfect love takes our place.

Let’s sing our hearts out for being the recipients of this unbelievably extravagant gesture of love and grace.

Did you know the back story… or the whole story?

Does it change Palm Sunday for you, too?

It’s JoyDay!

The day we take time to look back over the past week and count ‘seven’… our joys and our sorrows… and give thanks.

There’s something wonderful that happens when we practice this counting.  We start to see things in our day differently, we live with more joy and expectation.  And peace.

Please join me in counting ‘seven.’

I’ll start!

Lord, thank you for…

1. your love and faithfulness… every. single. day.
2. the totally unexpected text I received this evening from one of my little friends.
3. people who pray… because I’m sure those prayers helped make that brief texting conversation happen.
4. my good friend and the laughter we enjoy over dinner.
5. the spectacular sunset tonight in shades of deep pink to violet.  It reminded me of dipped Easter eggs.
6. the throat spray we discovered that helped Tim’s throat.  Yay!!!
7. being our protector, redeemer, restorer, deliverer, and healer!!!

Now, it’s YOUR turn!

Scroll down to the “Share your extraordinary thoughts” below and tap in your ‘seven.’  You’ll be glad you did.

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your sweet thoughts.

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