Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19
Today during our worship service, I sensed a strong tug on my heart with regards to today being Palm Sunday. I started picturing Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week before the Passover and His crucifixion. Can you imagine the crowds thronging the streets just to get a view of Jesus? I started seeing the people throwing off their garments and shouting ‘Hosanna’. To be precise, according to the Book of Mark:
Hosanna!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the Highest
As Beautiful as this sounds, what drove this crowd to pour out this adulation and affection upon Jesus in this manner?
The prophet Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 61:1-3 ……..v3 “To console all who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord that he may be glorified. “
I can only imagine that these people got a glimpse of, and experienced a reality of who this Jesus truly is. They threw of their garments that restricted them in their praise and adoration of the King of all Glory. Their act of worship was with abandon and without any sort of shame, reminiscent of king David in behind the ark of God’s presence coming into Jerusalem.
Today as we remember Palm Sunday, let us remember this precursor to Jesus death meant that he is with us and that His spirit is in us. Additionally we have this assurance that the King of all Glory has made our hearts His home. However there is many a time when we are in His presence, we are weighed down by guilt of our actions, the pain of our losses, the hurt in our bodies and general condemnation that we heap on ourselves. The symbolism of these people throwing off their garments at the feet of Jesus is that it released them to the point of total freedom in their expression of worship and surrender in His presence. Whatever you are facing today, know that our Father is just, merciful, gracious and loving towards us. Today I invite you to not only catch a glimpse of Jesus but experience His presence. When we do, we will encounter a freedom through His unmerited love for us. When you come into His presence allow your garment of praise and intimate worship of the King of Glory to dispel and release every spirit of heaviness.
As Paul wrote to the Philippian church, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God” Philippians 4:6
Be blessed
