Blessed is He

     Today is Palm Sunday, a day that we reflect upon all that happened that glorious day and the other exciting things that happened the week preceding Jesus’ death on the cross on Good Friday (the Jewish Passover), and resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday.

  Let us look at and reflect on a few Scriptures from those days leading up to the crucifixition.

   “Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” (John 12:1-3)

   Judas complained about the waste of the oil and said it should have been sold and given to the poor, not that he cared about the poor, but because he was the keeper of the money and stole from their moneybox.

     “But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.’” (John 12:7-8)

   “The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! The King of Israel!’ Then Jesus when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written; ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.’” (John 12”13-15) (Verse 15 quotes Zechariah 9:9)

   Later that day Jesus spoke to some Greeks that Phillip and Andrew had brought to Jesus.

   “But Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him my father will honor.” (John 12:23-26)   

Jesus Predicts His Death on the Cross:

      “’Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to his hour. Father glorify Your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.’ Therefore, the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to Him.’ Jesus answered and said, ‘This voice did not come because of me but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself.’ This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” (John 12:27-33)

   “Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be sons of light. “ (John 12:35-36a)

Do you believe in the light that Jesus gave us in the Scriptures? Walk in it!

Pray:

1.     For many people today to see, for the first time, that Jesus is who He claimed to be, the Messiah, the Son of God and that God will convict them of sin and bring them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

2.     For the indwelling Holy Sprit to fill you and show you who you can minister to today.

3.     For the desire to spend time every day this week in the Scriptures and in prayer as we remember the price Jesus has paid so that we might be His faithful followers.

4.     For the leaders of our nation, churches, and businesses that they might be lead by the Spirit of God in all their decisions.