A RIDE LIKE NO OTHER

Jesus said, “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”  (John 12:27-28 NIV)

Serious reflection on the Scripture references for Palm Sunday remind us that Jesus did not take a leisurely ride to town along a path strewn with palm branches. That first Palm Sunday saw the final ride on the high road of principle, obedience, and faith that would lead to the death of Jesus. The disciples may have wished otherwise, but deep in their hearts they must have known that this ride was like no other Jesus had taken and would bring the end of the life they knew as His followers.

We can be sure that Jesus knew that the shouts of “Hosanna” would give way to the cry of “Crucify.” He knew because He was fully human and was well acquainted with the temptation to follow the path of political correctness and the easiest way out. He also knew the shouts would change from “Hosanna” to “Crucify” because He was fully divine and could see clearly that His journey of incarnation was near the end. The coming humiliation and execution were now undeniable. His desire to be faithful was so overwhelmingly strong that He rode on in confidence and ultimate trust in God whom He knew intimately as Abba. There was no looking back with the question, “What if?” His focus remained on God and God’s will as He moved forward, propelled and sustained by His deep faith in God’s goodness and love. 

-- Norman Shawchuck and Rueben P. Job in “A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God” 

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PALM WAVING

“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.’ At first His disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about Him and that these things had been done to Him.”  (John 12:12-16 NIV)

The coupling of Palm Sunday on the same week in Jesus’ life as Good Friday (a name betwixt in paradox) is playing to our temptations as I’m sure it played for Jesus even more profoundly. The fanfare that might come with a noble life, let’s say, might give us gratification and notoriety. Jesus knew about fleeting applause better than anyone, but He also understands fickle hearts. He understands our hearts in the first order, given the turn of events that leads to His death. In a true sense, our lives must follow Jesus through His passion. We must see His suffering and our need. If we stay on the street corner waving palms, we won’t understand either one. 

-- Zach Kincaid, from an article called “Palm Waving” on www.cslewis.com

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THE SIGN FOR JESUS

In the sign language for the deaf, the sign for Jesus is to point to the palms of both hands with the index finger of the other hand. This is symbolic of the nail prints in the hands of Jesus.


The sign for the Bible is to point with first one index finger then the other to the palms of both hands, then to open the palms up as if they were a book. In other words, the Bible is a book about Jesus Christ.


-- Jamie Buckingham in Power for Living




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