Holy Week Devotional
An 8 day devotional, written by members of our church family, dedicated to bringing us through the period of holy week. All leading up to Christs work on the Cross. Join us .
Palm Sunday/Ray Larson
Devotional #1
Salvation Signals
The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on the Sunday before Resurrection Day is an event that is significant far beyond the words used to describe it! With the aid of the Holy Spirit, our hearts and spirits are lifted to levels that astound and bless us. The Lord is signaling in our inner beings the beginning revelation of his gifts of salvation and peace.
The Synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke - each devotes seven verses to obtaining a donkey colt to transport Jesus. A crowd gathers to lead and follow Jesus into Jerusalem with much shouting and celebrating. All four Gospels recount the journey. The crowd prepares the route in a very special way. They celebrate wildly, shouting phrases ladened with significant meaning.
Zechariah 9:9 tells them and us to rejoice loudly and greatly. Why? Zechariah says a king is coming. In our gospel passages, he has arrived; he is seeking entry. Zechariah wants them and us to know that He is humble, on a donkey, a subtle symbol.
The crowd shouts, “Hosanna!” Translation: “Save!” or “O save!” or “Save us!” Psalm 118:25 says, “Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!” Then, they shout verse 26, verbatim, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (ESV) Our Messiah had arrived; this had to be him! With the power to defeat the Romans and drive them out of Israel, he was expected to give us success for our cause. However, Jesus had a much different and far greater purpose.
Zechariah also said, “Righteous and having salvation is he.” Indeed, a genuine, real salvation above all things, for all time, for the end of time…to those who welcome him. He is seeking entry into us, to be our Savior, and to give us total peace with awesome love. Let us apply and live this daily with our prayers and our examples of love, peace, and joy for all others. For, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, ESV) Thank you, Jesus, that you have answered us and become our salvation. (Psalm 118:21a, paraphrased)
The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on the Sunday before Resurrection Day is an event that is significant far beyond the words used to describe it! With the aid of the Holy Spirit, our hearts and spirits are lifted to levels that astound and bless us. The Lord is signaling in our inner beings the beginning revelation of his gifts of salvation and peace.
The Synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke - each devotes seven verses to obtaining a donkey colt to transport Jesus. A crowd gathers to lead and follow Jesus into Jerusalem with much shouting and celebrating. All four Gospels recount the journey. The crowd prepares the route in a very special way. They celebrate wildly, shouting phrases ladened with significant meaning.
Zechariah 9:9 tells them and us to rejoice loudly and greatly. Why? Zechariah says a king is coming. In our gospel passages, he has arrived; he is seeking entry. Zechariah wants them and us to know that He is humble, on a donkey, a subtle symbol.
The crowd shouts, “Hosanna!” Translation: “Save!” or “O save!” or “Save us!” Psalm 118:25 says, “Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!” Then, they shout verse 26, verbatim, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (ESV) Our Messiah had arrived; this had to be him! With the power to defeat the Romans and drive them out of Israel, he was expected to give us success for our cause. However, Jesus had a much different and far greater purpose.
Zechariah also said, “Righteous and having salvation is he.” Indeed, a genuine, real salvation above all things, for all time, for the end of time…to those who welcome him. He is seeking entry into us, to be our Savior, and to give us total peace with awesome love. Let us apply and live this daily with our prayers and our examples of love, peace, and joy for all others. For, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, ESV) Thank you, Jesus, that you have answered us and become our salvation. (Psalm 118:21a, paraphrased)