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Good Sunday morning my friends! It is Palm Sunday at the time of this writing, and the beginning of Holy Week, one of the most beautiful and meaningful times of the church year.
Our minds wander back to that time in Jerusalem so many years ago when Jesus came riding into the city on the back of a donkey with its colt following close by. The hooves of the animals were kicking up spirals of dust as they traveled along the dirt road.
Many of those who had gathered for this triumphal entry took off their cloaks and broke branches from the trees and laid them on the pathway for the animals to tread. Thus, the dust settled down a bit as they welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with the waving of palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna, to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Jesus was well aware of what was ahead of him but for that moment in time, a soft smile settled into the lines of his face as he began the last week-long journey of his human life. He experienced many things in these few short days, praise as he came into Jerusalem which soon turned to scorn by many, took the last Passover meal with his disciples, was sold out by one of his own for 30 pieces of silver, suffered a mockery of a trial and given over to the mob to be crucified.
We learn from the scriptures that at the moment of Jesus’ death, a great earthquake caused the tombs to break open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and it was at Jesus’ resurrection on the third day, that they went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and many people saw them.
Next Sunday will be Easter Sunday! The joyful day of resurrection and the gift of eternal life that was put in place. Jesus gave his life for our sins, though he himself was sinless. What a great debt we owe him, but Jesus paid the price. We come to him seeking salvation full and free. And He gives it … all we need do is ask.
“Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you.” These are the words of our Lord, speaking to all who would listen.
So, celebrate the day, wave your palm branches high, and shout, “Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!”
