Palm Sunday
Luke 19:29-44
On Palm Sunday 2000 years ago, Jesus entered Jerusalem to the praise of the crowds. Here came their King, the One Who would deliver them from the oppression of the Romans, so they thought. The people who praised Jesus upon His entry to Jerusalem didn’t realize the way He would win the battle and who the battle was against. They assumed He would beat the Romans, but Jesus beat the devil. They assumed He would be King and rule and reign in Jerusalem, He won the battle on the cross and rules and reigns in heaven. Few people in that day truly understood Who Jesus is and how He was to become our Redeemer. Few today understand Who Jesus is and what He has done as our Redeemer. The crowd praised and cheered a person who they thought would be their political redeemer not realizing He is the Redeemer of our souls. People in that day misunderstood what Jesus was all about. People today still misunderstand what Jesus is all about.
What people consider important and what God considers important are two very different things. People consider popularity important. By the world’s standards Jesus was very popular on Palm Sunday so He would be considered successful. Why people were putting their coats and palm branches in front of Jesus as He rode into town. They gave Jesus the Red Carpet treatment. They sang praises to Him. Jesus was so popular that day. Not even a week later, the same crowd was chanting “crucify Him”. Popularity is a fleeting thing. People that sing your praises may just have a change of heart. If Jesus Who is perfect had such a radical swing in people’s opinions, then don’t be surprised if those of us who are less than perfect get people’s praises one day and the next they are out to get us. Jesus went from having thousands of followers to having a handful. On the cross He died alone. By the world’s standards He died a failure, but by God’s standard He won the victory on the cross! People consider doing what is popular as important, God considers doing what is right as important. Jesus went to the cross of calvary to be the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. He went to Jerusalem to lay down His life as a sacrifice for sin.
The sins that Jesus went to pay for are your sins and mine. We all are sinners. Romans 3:23 All of us have sinned and none of us are good enough to get into heaven. Only someone perfect without sin could pay the penalty for our sins. The penalty for our sins is eternity in hell. Romans 6:23 We have earned through our actions an eternity in hell. In life how many murders does it take for someone to become a murderer? Only one. How many sins does it take for someone to become a sinner? Only one. Even as murder has a penalty, sin has the penalty of eternity in hell. But we don’t have to pay for our sin’s penalty, because Jesus paid our penalty for us. When He died on the cross, He paid the penalty for our sins. He defeated the devil on the cross. He arose three days later victorious over sin and the grave! Now He rules and reigns on high! Jesus gave His life so that we might live.
John 3:16 God loved us so much that He gaves His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins and pay the penalty for our sins, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Even though we have earned an eternity in hell, we don’t have to go there. Jesus paid the price for our sins. We just have to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Ephesians 2:8,9 We can not earn our salvation, we must accept it as a free gift. Gifts cannot be earned they must be received. God through grace is willing to forgive us of our sins, if we will accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. All He asks us to do is to believe on Him. Romans 10:9,10 When we are saved we start by praying and asking God to have mercy on us and forgive us of our sins. We ask Jesus to come into our hearts and be our Lord and Savior. We accept Him by faith. Prayer is just talking with God. The only prayer God will hear from someone who isn’t saved is the prayer for salvation. Sin is a barrier to our communicating with God. We must ask God to forgive our sins through the Blood of Jesus Christ. We must ask God to have mercy on us and forgive us. We must accept the free gift of salvation that Jesus Christ bought for us on the cross of calvary. Salvation is not a feeling. Salvation is not just turning over a new leaf and trying to do better. Salvation is not just reformation of lives. Salvation is regeneration. Anything less than believing with your heart and asking God in prayer to save you....anything less will not save you. Salvation is so simple, yet many miss the mark by 18 inches. Believing with your head does not work. You must believe with the heart and ask God to forgive you. Repent and turn from your sins to serve the Living and True God. Jesus will save you for the asking. Will you do that today? You can be saved right where you sit.
Are you saved? if no Click Here