Five days before His crucifixion, Jesus came into Jerusalem with the people around Him shouting, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of LORD” (Matt. 21:9). It was a parade of celebration and joy, uplifting in every way. The celebration and joy would come to a screeching halt on Friday, but on this day it was celebration, blind though it was.
The psalmist calls us to
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.(Psalm 118:1-2)
On Palm Sunday the people returned to Psalm 118 with these words, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD” (vs. 26). They saw in Jesus the fulfillment of the prophetic proclamation concerning the coming Messiah. On Friday, their hopes would be dashed because on that day, Jesus did not look like a conquering Messiah.
What does our Messiah look like? Can we make room in our hearts for a suffering servant-Messiah? Do we only love Him on parade days or can we drink the cup that Jesus drinks (Mark 10:38)? Do we see the Messiah as one who most go through the death of Friday but who is raised up from the dead on the following Sunday? Can we receive a whole Messiah, not one who simply makes us feel good? Can we, too, walk the Via Dolorosa, and still hold tightly to the Messiah alongside whom we walk?
These questions are not for the faint of heart. These are commitment questions that call us to examine ourselves, search our inner being, and make tough decisions. We read about Palm Sunday not simply to join in on the celebration. We read about it to face down our inner lives to see where we stand in relationship with God. Can we drink the cup of Jesus? Can we follow Him all the way to death and on to the resurrection? Are we in it simply for what it means to us, or are we in it for what it means to God?
Holy week is about God finalizing His redemption work in Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus would say, “It is finished” (John 19:3). Today, we are invited into that finished work. God’s grace and love embrace our lives.
Would you pray with me,
We give thanks, LORD, for You are good; Your lovingkindness is everlasting. We join with countless millions, past and present, and say, Your lovingkindness is everlasting. Amen.
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