Palm Sunday
What did the principalities and powers see in Jerusalem that day? A peasant on a donkey, rural Jews enthusiastically waving palm branches and quoting Psalm 119—it looked like trouble, so by week’s end Jesus was crucified. The principalities and powers are ruthlessly efficient.
If you love God and know the Scriptures, you see that Jesus is declaring: “I am YHWH’s Messiah King.” Prophecy! Jesus has come for His crown and throne, but the demon haunted world gives a crown of thorn. They mock and scorn Him, lifting Him up for all to see.
Our sight is dim. Our unbelief keeps us from understanding who He is. We know the words and might even be emotionally moved from time to time, but truth be told, far too often, we are only mildly interested in Jesus. We are, after all, busy with pressing concerns.
Yet if we prayerfully study the Scriptures, our eyes will be opened to see the verbal connections, and interweaving patterns and themes throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is a library divinely inspired literature—each book separate, yet, all of them connected in one Grand Narrative.
So, it is no surprise that Psalm 80 can shed light Jesus. God is the “Shepherd” who is “enthroned upon the cherubim” connects God, kingship and the Temple in heaven and on earth. The cry, “Come and save us” evokes every Exodus from slavery, exile, sin, sickness—a cry for God’s Kingdom to come. The “bread of tears,” contrasts with manna, it is the fake food of sin. The face of God, an image of covenant union, who turns toward and away from His people. Psalm 80 could shed so much light if we let it...
Even more light, Zechariah 9, a prophecy of the victorious King—triumphant, humble, bringing peace to the nations, the blood of his covenant freeing all who are imprisoned. Studying Zechariah would give us eyes to see the depth of meaning in Jesus on that donkey.
Since Genesis 3, thistles and thorns thwart humanity. The fallen world is ruled by power and violence. Even social justice begets more injustice, just of a different kind. Rebel humanity always worships the wrong gods and serves the wrong kings.
See Jesus! He declares that the reign of other gods and human rulers is ended. Jesus says. “I am the King!” The world, the flesh and the devil stand against Him, we cannot stand with divided loyalties. We cannot let dim eyes, weak faith and selfishness keep us from walking with Him to calvary. Jesus stands ready to give us eyes to see and obey. He stands ready to give us a heart of trusting love. Will we stand with Him to receive?
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