Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Hosanna – A Journey of Humility,
Fulfilment & Obedience
Rev. Manoj Idiculla
Vicar
Carmel MTC, Boston
‘This took place to fulfil what was spoken
through the prophets…..’ Vs. 4
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the day we remember Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem a few days before He was crucified for our sins. The Biblical account of Christ’s “Triumphal Entry,” into Jerusalem is one of the few events all four gospels record for us. Five days before the Passover, Jesus came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Having sent two of His disciples to bring Him a colt of a donkey, Jesus sat upon it and entered the city. Prophets had spoken of such a day, the Psalmist sang of it, and the Messiah was to fulfill it. No greater day could be anticipated. Some celebrated it as a triumphal entry, others mourned it as the tragic end of the great promise. The excitement of the scene is tempered by the fact that very soon, the same crowds that hailed Jesus as King would be calling for His death.
This is also the beginning of the Holy week and we will be focusing on those events that took place during the last week of the earthly life of our Savior. His royal entry into Jerusalem was the beginning of that week. His triumphant resurrection from the tomb brought it to a grand conclusion.
The journey of Jesus down to Jerusalem was a journey of humility, fulfilment and obedience. Jesus riding on the donkey, that wasn’t His, reflects the life that Jesus led. Jesus didn’t come into this world wealthy but in poverty. He didn’t enter in grandeur, but in meekness, and His life wasn’t one of fame and fortune, rather it was lived outside the limelight. In fact, Jesus always spoke about His kingdom being of servant-hood, not ruler-ship.
Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem upon the colt of a donkey didn’t happen by chance, it was the direct fulfillment of God’s divine plan. (Matthew 21:4, Zechariah 9:9). Jesus’ life was to fulfill God’s divine plan of redemption, that is, to save us, and thus Jesus took Jerusalem’s road for our salvation, knowing fully well that it meant His death.
The obedience of the disciples when Jesus told them to go and get both a donkey and her colt is also remarkable. They were asked to obey some pretty weird instructions. But God’s ways are not our own. In obeying God we find that He has a plan. The Jerusalem Road is one of obedience, and it calls us to not only hear, but to obey the Word of the Lord.
What will be our choice? Will we continue to go the way of the world and have a different choice than what God has planned for us, or will we choose to follow and obey, and have heaven and an eternity with God as our ultimate destiny? Today are we traveling on our own road, or are we traveling down that Jerusalem Road?
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the day we remember Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem a few days before He was crucified for our sins. The Biblical account of Christ’s “Triumphal Entry,” into Jerusalem is one of the few events all four gospels record for us. Five days before the Passover, Jesus came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Having sent two of His disciples to bring Him a colt of a donkey, Jesus sat upon it and entered the city. Prophets had spoken of such a day, the Psalmist sang of it, and the Messiah was to fulfill it. No greater day could be anticipated. Some celebrated it as a triumphal entry, others mourned it as the tragic end of the great promise. The excitement of the scene is tempered by the fact that very soon, the same crowds that hailed Jesus as King would be calling for His death.
This is also the beginning of the Holy week and we will be focusing on those events that took place during the last week of the earthly life of our Savior. His royal entry into Jerusalem was the beginning of that week. His triumphant resurrection from the tomb brought it to a grand conclusion.
The journey of Jesus down to Jerusalem was a journey of humility, fulfilment and obedience. Jesus riding on the donkey, that wasn’t His, reflects the life that Jesus led. Jesus didn’t come into this world wealthy but in poverty. He didn’t enter in grandeur, but in meekness, and His life wasn’t one of fame and fortune, rather it was lived outside the limelight. In fact, Jesus always spoke about His kingdom being of servant-hood, not ruler-ship.
Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem upon the colt of a donkey didn’t happen by chance, it was the direct fulfillment of God’s divine plan. (Matthew 21:4, Zechariah 9:9). Jesus’ life was to fulfill God’s divine plan of redemption, that is, to save us, and thus Jesus took Jerusalem’s road for our salvation, knowing fully well that it meant His death.
The obedience of the disciples when Jesus told them to go and get both a donkey and her colt is also remarkable. They were asked to obey some pretty weird instructions. But God’s ways are not our own. In obeying God we find that He has a plan. The Jerusalem Road is one of obedience, and it calls us to not only hear, but to obey the Word of the Lord.
What will be our choice? Will we continue to go the way of the world and have a different choice than what God has planned for us, or will we choose to follow and obey, and have heaven and an eternity with God as our ultimate destiny? Today are we traveling on our own road, or are we traveling down that Jerusalem Road?
PRAYER
Help us, O Lord, to fulfill Your plan in our lives and experience life in abundance in You. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"Be humble, for it is in humility we can find
God. "