Today is the day where we think about the joy and honor poured upon Jesus as King. It’s super to want to call him King and Savior, but it’s another thing to really acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
Sometimes, like the people in the crowd {who in five days would quickly turned from chanting “Hosanna” to yelling “Crucify!”} we tend to want a Savior who only fits our perception of saving. Maybe?
Sometimes, like the disciples who had witnessed first hand Jesus’ love, mercy, power, and authority, we scatter when it’s time to go to the cross. Maybe?
It’s with JOY on Palm Sunday that we celebrate Jesus… But what about the days that follow the celebration? On those days, what is it that we really want?
Is it really Jesus – and everything about Him? Or is it that we only want the portion of Jesus that fits comfortably in our present life situation?
How much of Jesus do we really want?
And how far are we willing to follow Him?
Will we celebrate Him today and scatter when He asks of us hard things that our eyes can’t see and our finite minds can’t comprehend?
Or will we lay down our “need to control” or “need to know” or our selfishness, egos, plans, pride, etc. and go all the way with Jesus to the cross?
These are the questions that The Lord awoke me with this morning, and pressed upon me to share. None of us can answer for anyone but our own selves. So I’ll ask you what The Lord is asking me this morning:
How far are you willing to go with Jesus?
For me, it’s sometimes not such a matter of “willing” as much as it is a matter of “weak flesh.” “The spirit is wiling but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41 )
So maybe the clearer question I’m being asked on this Palm Sunday is:
How far are you and your flesh willing to go with Jesus? All the way to the cross – where you, too, might feel like saying, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)
Because let’s remember… after the cross is the resurrection!…The bringing to NEW life all blessed things cast away as dead!
After the cross is Victory!…
Hosannah! Praise the Lord!
(Matt. 20:9)
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].
For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]?
For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory (majesty, splendor) of His Father with His angels, and then He will render account and reward every man in accordance with what he has done.
Matthew 16:24-27 (AMP)
A blessed Palm Sunday to each of you, my friends. Oh, that we would meet each other at the foot of the cross…
(a repost from 2015)
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