devotional for Sunday, April 1, 2012
This year Palm Sunday falls on April Fools day. It is no joke that our Savior came to earth as a human being and died and rose again for our sins. So what was the event that we celebrate on Palm Sunday all about?
Jesus was entering Jerusalem the Sunday before he was killed on a cross and then rose again from the dead. But the people there had no idea this was to happen. They only knew that this Jesus was a miracle worker - some in the crowd were Jews who knew he had raised Lazarus from the dead and were now following Jesus because he was fulfilling the prophesies about the Messiah from over 450 years before. A great crowd came to Jerusalem for the celebration of Passover later in the week. When they heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem, they began gathering and lining the streets, throwing their garments and palm branches on the street. Those were customs reserved for someone of great honor, a king. They thought Jesus had come to be an earthly king, to save them from Roman rule and restore their kingdom on earth.
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:12-15 NIV
But was this like an April Fools joke on the people expecting a king? Not at all. Jesus had come not as an earthly king, but a heavenly one, and it was the crowd gathered there that was portraying him as something earthly only. Jesus came to restore our broken relationship with God, not to restore Jerusalem's kingdom on earth. He came to pay for our sins in our place so that we might have absolute and total forgiveness as a completely free gift, not to gain earthly wealth or give earthly victory. We only have to not reject this free gift of forgiveness and eternal life by remaining faithful believers. This was not at all what those Jewish people were thinking that day, and within a week Jesus would die and rise again from the dead. His coming to earth had been totally misconstrued by many. Some probably were so confused at Jesus not becoming an earthly king and perhaps even angry, that they probably fell away from following him. But there were those who did remain faithful and with the disciples became the beginning of the Christian church.
Have your intentions ever been misunderstood? Have your actions been misconstrued? Have you said something meant to be helpful and good but it was taken as hurtful? And how have you responded in those situations? Were you astonished, upset, or defensive? Remember how Jesus handled it. He was generally calm, and simply continued with his Father's plan. He did not argue or defend himself. He knew sometimes he would be misunderstood but continued to love the people and let his actions speak for him. We would do well to imitate Jesus in this also! Perhaps we can remember that the next time our words or actions are misunderstood.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to imitate you in my daily life, caring for those around me and witnessing to them of your great love. And if I am falsely accused of something else, help me to continue to be loving and understanding of others. Please forgive me for times when I have been upset or even retaliated. May I always be a good witness for you. In your name I pray, Amen.
written by Jan Andersen
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