The calm and balm of Palm Sunday before the 'Corona' of cruelty crept in

Lunminthang Haokip *

Palm Sunday celebrated at Kangpokpi town on April 10 2022 :: Pix - TSE

BEYOND PALM LEAVES AND HOSANNA: Many Christians celebrated Palm Sunday with the palm branches held high and full-throated cries of Hosanna as the be-all and end-all of Palm Sunday. But to Jesus, the Son of God sent from heaven, who was out on a rare 'road-show,' it meant a lot more than palm leaves and shouts of Hosanna.

Luke wrote about the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in Luke 19:38, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." Christ preached on the clues to have peace on earth.

But the people He valued most cared two hoots about His message. Conflict ruled the roost. Peace is at a premium today. We have fragile 'truces' which are broken soon. So there would be no peace on earth. The kingdom of God and kingdom of evil would be at war (Luke 12:49-53).

THE LORD'S AUTHORITY OVER CREATION: At the fag end of His Ministry in which He was rejected by His own, Jesus wanted a grand show. So He opted for a donkey ride. Luke 19:30, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there ......Untie it and bring it here." Colts were not rated high as an animal. But they were fit for a king (1 Kings 1:33, 34).

"Jesus rode the colt (Luke 19:35). No one ever rode on the ass. The ass is known to kick those who come near. The fact that the beast meekly submitted to Jesus was proof that the LORD has authority over God's entire creation.

Humble yourself and submit to the Lord. He will make good use of you like He did to the colt. The Lord wants to tame our wild ways with His Word, that we should repent and use our talents for His glory.

THE PREP FOR THE PASSOVER: Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday that believers observe as the Passion Week was made most eventful by our Lord. When we are to leave home for a long time, we are in a hurry and flurry to crosscheck things and tie up loose ends. On Sunday, Jesus demonstrated His kingship as He entered Jerusalem.

On Monday, the Son of God did a "Swachh Temple' - cleaned up His Father's house. His engagement in settling controversies with the Jewish leaders came on Tuesday. On Wednesday, He rested but Thursday was spent in getting prepared for the Passover. History is witness that our innocent Lord was put to grievous trial and crucified on Friday.

After His Saturday rest in the tomb, He was raised from the dead on Easter Sunday. The day of His resurrection became the Lord's Day. Seven days of prayer in a week will make us strong,m; without prayer, we become weak.

LAMB OF GOD ALL SET TO BE SLAIN : Jesus allowed the historic hysteria of public revelling on Palm Sunday to reveal two things. First, He had to fulfil the presenting of Himself as Israel's King (Zechariah 9:9). Shouts of Hosanna reverberated as the King of kings rode past His joyous subject. Clothes and cloaks were spread on the road in His honour.

The crowd went wild with praise. They thought Jesus would send the Romans invaders packing. But it was the calm before the storm. Secondly, the open demonstration of His kingship was to compel Jewish religious leaders to act.

They desired to arrest Christ after the Passover (Matt 26:3-5). But God made His will prevail. The Almighty had ordained that His Son be slain on Passover as the "Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29 and 1 Cor. 5:7)."

THE SORROW OVER THINGS TO COME: Luke 19:41 & 42, As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes." When the Lord was born, 'peace on earth' was mentioned (Luke 2:14). But the generation of sin-bedevilled people were not ready to accept Him as Lord.

"He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him (John 1:12)." Till today Jesus is considered as just another good and righteous man by spiritually illiterate folks. The citizenry He came for and loved most were His most vocal detractors. So the heavenly peace He brought on earth was torn into pieces of strife.

Today we have Coronovirus shattering human peace of mind worldwide. Peace with God for men Jesus accomplished on the cross but 'peace on earth' was in peril. He could foresee the tragic mass massacres to come soon. So He wept.

'BUSINESS HUB' SNUBBED: Luke 19:45, "It is written, He said to them, "My house will be a house of prayer,' but you have made in an den of robbers." Upon the insult of ignoring the purpose of His earthly visit, the injury of turning the holy Temple into a business hub of selling and buying things was added.

The situation is subtly different today in our midst. But it would appear the same in God's sight when our local Churches are full of 'religious activities' and pursuit of personal gains and worldly ambitions.

Anything lesser than burden for souls will fail to make a grade with the Lord's expectations. Jesus was pained by the callous attitude of men towards the place of worship. If desire is not to be bracketed as a 'den of robbers,' let's cease to rob God's time, His resources, opportunities, and the privileged positions of stewardship the Lord 'loans' to us before the 'final whistle' is blown.