Lesson for the Lord’s Day
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried, Hosanna, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. John 12:13
It was not the entire nation, and it certainly was not the Jewish leaders, but the crowd that thronged the arrival of the Lord Jesus that day was certainly impressive, so impressive that the Jewish leaders did not dare to interfere. Their plot to kill Him was not able to proceed because of the crowd and their excitement at His arrival. If we had been there that day, how joyfully we would have joined in to celebrate the arrival of the Messiah! This was a great event, by any standard. For most of the people, they were welcoming One Who was powerful enough to raise people from the dead, a Worker of miracles, a great and wonderful Preacher. Some of the actually understood that this was the Messiah, and were wildly excited about His arrival. Some recognized Him as the King, the Son of David, the rightful occupant of the throne of Israel. And He was arriving in His capital city.
Humbly riding on an unbroken donkey’s colt, the Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem to a measure of acclaim. We consider those who were in the welcoming crowd and are glad that He received praise. We consider the purpose of His coming, remembering that in a few short days, He would be rejected, despised, and forsaken, and it was all part of God’s great plan of salvation. We consider how He knew, as He entered the city, that he was soon to undergo great depths of shame and suffering, and would emerge from the city carrying His cross. What grief filled His heart to realize that many of those shouting His praises on His arrival would be clamoring for His crucifixion on His exit. As joyful as the arrival of Jesus was on this occasion, it could certainly not have brought joy to His heart.
A day is coming in which the same Jesus, in full recognition as Lord and Christ, will return to that same city. His arrival will not be in humility and accompanied by a few hundred excited folks, but will be in power and great glory, and accompanied by ten thousands of His saints. No despisers or rejectors will be in evidence then. No sanhedrin will plot His death on that occasion. The nation that heaped on Him such great shame on His first arrival will then be ashamed of themselves for ever doubting and rejecting Him.
The Word of God records that Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It also records that He Who is now rejected will soon be given the welcome He deserves. – Jim MacIntosh