Good Palm Sunday Friends,
I’m praying for each of you to wake with a great reality of the beauty of Jesus today. Palm Sunday is about recognizing Jesus as so much more than a great teacher… to see him as KING and LORD.
Until Palm Sunday… the crowds didn’t really know for sure who Jesus was. Approaching the Passover Feast, riding on a donkey, and heading for Jerusalem… it was all the crowds needed to detonate an eruption of praise… the celebration of a lifetime! They all went crazy as they wondered… could this be the deliverer, the King predicted by our prophets? Surely, this miracle worker had to be the Messiah!
The problem with Palm Sunday is how quickly the cheering stopped! Yeah, when the people realized that Jesus was not going to overthrow the Roman Empire… and they could not understand that the Kingdom Jesus was building was an eternal Kingdom… they no longer wanted him to be the one who fulfilled their prophecies.
Why are we cheering for Jesus today? Is it because we think that he is going to do everything we ask him to do for us exactly the way that we ask for him to do it? Or, will our cheering go far beyond Palm Sunday… into the Garden of Gethsemane… to the cross… into the grave… and onto the REAL LIFE God has for each of us?
I want to CHEER for a King whose kingdom is not of this world. I want to CHEER for a King who overthrows the sins of my own heart… a King who calls on me to pick up my own cross and FOLLOW HIM wherever he may lead! I want to CHEER for Jesus today, because he overthrew the KINGDOM OF DARKNESS and freed me from the tyranny of Satan.
“Father, please don’t let me be like the Jews of that first Palm Sunday. Let my heart rejoice in you because of WHO you are, instead of what I perceive that you may be doing for me. May my praise go so much deeper than the temporal blessings you bring into this short life… and may I be able to praise you because YOU ARE THE PASSOVER LAMB… YOU ARE THE KING OF AN ETERNAL KINGDOM… YOU ARE THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!
Please, give me a praise that transcends circumstance… and may I not be hindered from being able to express my awe of your truest beauty! I love you Father… thanking you this day for sending Jesus, your son into this earth to give his life as a ransom payment for my sins… and the sins of the world! Please help me to praise you even when life doesn’t go the way I want it to… please don’t ever let my cheering stop. May I praise you all the way to the cross… and far beyond… again and again throughout the rest of my life!
I give myself to you anew this Palm Sunday… overwhelm me right here in my office… overwhelm all my bloggers… overwhelm the beautiful people of Destiny Family Center… overwhelm my wife and kids… overwhelm my family as they grieve the loss of my Uncle Tuff! This is my prayer… in Jesus name amen!”
Here’s a beautiful song for you to spend a few minutes worshiping Jesus… have a beautiful day!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuZgTTHrzi0
I am cheering for who Jesus is and for who He says He is. I am cheering for Jesus for changing my life and because I am able to serve Him!!!! If it weren't for Him I wouldn't be able to serve Him!!!!
I was so glad i came to church sunday and got to hear your message, i swear i had tears in my eyes the whole time. Im so sorry for you and your family's loss. i love you so much and thank God everyday for the words he gives you that inspires me and everyone. You truely are a great person and a wonderful pastor!