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Palm Sunday – Missing the Real Messiah.
The Triumphal Entry is a wonderful moment in church history. Jesus arrives in Jerusalem which He has visited on many prior occasions. This time is very different though. He comes to His people and allows them to proclaim and celebrate Him as the Messiah. His time has come!
Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
This is an amazing point in time that was prophesied about hundreds of years prior by Daniel, Zechariah, and Isaiah, among others. Everyone was certain Jesus was the Messiah on the day of the Triumphal Entry. They rejoiced and praised God. Yet, days later they all abandon Him. Jesus faces the Cross alone after being hailed by thousands.
Why such a turnaround? How could they do such a thing?
It is simple really. They were never really praising Jesus as the Messiah. They completely missed His message and mission. They were hailing the Messiah of their plans instead. When this conflicted with Jesus, they chose their vision over Jesus.
We can shake our fingers and judge the ancient Israelites, but how often do we do the very same thing. We have a great plan for our life, our family, our careers or our ministry. Then Jesus takes things in a completely different directions for us. We don’t get the promotion. Our spouse does something terrible or disease strikes someone we love down. Then we question the same Jesus we praise when things are going according to plan.
Lord, do you really love me?
Lord, are you really who you say you are?
Lord, this hurts so much, how can this be something ending in good?
Jesus Himself resolved this issue with the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
It is never a failure in God or His will. It is simply not understanding the nature of the One we serve.
Sunday Morning at Calvary Catonsville, a Bible Teaching Church in Central Maryland.
Pastor Tom Neary
http://www.calvarycatonsville.com
Calvary Chapel Maryland
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