Sunday, April 5, 2020
Scripture – John 12: 12-13, 17-19 (NIV)
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
From glorious celebration to Calvary, all in a few days!
by Lt. Colonel Diane O’Brien
This was it! In the ministry of Jesus up to this point, he had met questions with honesty, but had not made a statement like this triumphal entry. In fact, just a few verses before this story, John records that Jesus withdrew to a different area, with his disciples. The scripture tells us that he returned when he heard the sad news about his friend Lazarus, and Thomas helped us to realize that they knew they were facing danger when he said, “Let us go with him, that we may die with him”.
And just a few days later, this was the time for him to make an entry.
The streets of Jerusalem were packed with pilgrims arriving to celebrate Passover. Jesus fulfilling prophecy, riding the animal that signaled his arrival as the Messiah. The quotation in this passage is from Psalm 118:25-26, and the Jews would be used to singing it as they ascended to road into Jerusalem.
Some in the crowd were excited because they had heard about, or even been present at, the resurrection of Lazarus. Here comes the miracle worker! It seemed to the pharisees that with whole world was following Jesus. Apparently, his disciples were not so thrilled! John, in a very personal note, records that they did not understand the significance at the time.
But Jesus knew. He knew exactly what he was facing in those next few days. This last week started with shouts of celebration but he knew where the road would lead. And he chose to take it.
It is amazing!
I Am Amazed When I Think Of God’s Love
(Salvation Army Songbook 170)
1.
I AM amazed when I think of God’s love,
So wonderful, matchless and free;
The love that could see, from eternity,
Something worth saving in sinners like me.
I am amazed that the Savior should die
For sinners like me and like you;
That we may be saved by the work He has done
And not by the works that we do.
But it’s true, it’s true,
This wonderful story so old, but so new.
I am amazed that the Savior should die
For sinners like me and like you.
2.
I am amazed when I think of God’s grace,
O word with a heavenly sound!
For sinners condemned, what way could be found?
More than sufficient God’s grace did abound.
3.
I am amazed when I think of God’s Son,
From Glory to Calvary He came
To bear in my place sin’s darkness and shame;
O what a Savior, and Jesus His name!
-Sidney Cox