In the Christian church, this upcoming Sunday will mark an important historical moment in the ministry of Jesus Christ. It will be Palm Sunday, the day we acknowledge Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, marking the beginning of the week leading to Easter Sunday. Between these two Sundays are moments of extreme importance to the Christian community. Moments, such as Jesus cleansing the temple of money lenders, the Last Supper, the trial of Jesus, and his eventual crucifixion. For some denominations, each day will be marked by different services or worship events, and it all begins with Jesus entering Jerusalem.
This moment is captured in all four of the Gospel accounts, which tells us of its great importance. The Gospel of Mark provides this description: “Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, ‘Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve” (Mark 11:9-11 NIV).
Here we see a glimpse of the people’s excitement about Jesus coming into this Holy City. They greeted him as King David (the most famous of all the Israelite Kings) was greeted. The message is clear: there are those who think Jesus is coming to overthrow the Romans and reestablish the Jewish Kingdom. They will find that Jesus cares little for their expectations of him, and much more for the Will of the Father.
Let’s focus a little more on the expectations the crowd, and even the followers of Jesus, had for him. Jesus had been saying throughout his ministry that the Kingdom he would establish would not be like the one they were expecting (Mark 1:14–15, Matthew 6:33, Luke 6:20, Mark 4:26–29, Luke 13:18–21, Luke 17:20–21, etc.). Furthermore, when Jesus was arrested, and the plan the disciples had in their minds began to fall apart, they fled, hid, and denied even knowing Jesus. The crowd that once shouted, “Hosanna,” began to shout, “crucify him!” When Jesus no longer measured up to their expectations or resembled what they wanted the Messiah to be, they cast him aside and even bayed for his death. All within less than a week’s time.
So, let’s think about how this might apply to our lives today. What would happen if Jesus were to enter Freestone County today? What would it look like if he walked down the streets of Fairfield, crossed the railroad tracks of Teague, ventured off the highway into Streetman, or meandered through downtown Wortham? How would we react? Would the faithful of our county rise in unanimous Hosanna? Would we see Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Non-Denominational, Church of Christ, and others rise with branches of cedar, pine, or oak (palm branches are hard to find in Freestone County)?
I would hope such a sight would occur, what a unifying experience! But then what would happen when Jesus started preaching in our services? How would we respond when he entered into every house of worship and called out the hypocrisy or the heretical teachings that most assuredly exist within all churches? He would call us to repent, to turn away from false teachings, and lay out the truth for us to grasp and receive, but would we do it? Would we still shout Hosanna after Jesus had overturned things we greatly valued, or theological treatises we believe, but He would reject?
Any one of us Christians, or any church congregation, who thinks that they would not be convicted or admonished by Jesus, should he ever enter their spaces, is living a lie or in dangerous obliviousness. I am much more convinced of my unrighteousness than my righteousness, dear friends.
This Sunday, when we shout Hosanna, when we enter with palm branches, or when we just treat it like any other Sunday, may we welcome Jesus for who he is and who we know him to be, our King, our Lord, our Master, our Redeemer. Let us ensure that our Hosannas are not determined by who we WANT Jesus to be, but by who Jesus TRULY IS: the one and only Son of God, the Firstborn of All Creation, the Great Emmanuel, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Hosanna in the Highest!
—
Pastor Mike McVey
Minister – First United Methodist Church, Fairfield, TX
ACS Chaplain – United States Coast Guard, Station Galveston, TX
Cell: 919-935-2513
Email: pastormike@fumcfairfield.org
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
“Semper Paratus” – Always Ready
