Celebrations are always occasions to remember, and I’m reasonably sure that Christ’s disciples and followers remembered Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Yes, later in the week, their hopes of the conquering hero were dashed, only to be realized by the resurrection and establishment of the church.
We’re told in the scriptures that people threw their garments down and waved palm branches in the usual victory celebrations of the time. We’re also told by historians that when royalty visited, weeks before the roadways were leveled, not with bulldozers, but picks and shovels to make the “rough places plains.”
Usually, the conqueror would ride a large stallion. Not this time. We’re told Jesus rode, not a donkey, but the colt of a donkey. I imagine his feet dragged on the ground. But, we’re told even little children welcomed this Prince of Peace. No, he had no weapons to brandish. No troops dressed in their find regalia accompanied Him. No priests and Sadducees and Pharisees–members of the religiosity–wanted to see Him enter Jerusalem, their citadel of power.
I remember the hymn we children sang in Sunday school processions on Palm Sunday
“3 Into the city I’d follow
The children’s band,
Waving a branch of the palm tree
High in my hand;
One of his heralds,
Yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas,
“Jesus is King!” (Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” William Parker 1885, Public Domain)
Our church, Covenant Presbyterian in Palm Bay, Florida expects, hopefully, to sing Hosannas in our new sanctuary this year. I can’t wait to hear the music, our voices lifted in Hosannas, as we celebrate a three-year-long project. School cafeterias, while welcoming (and we’re so thankful) and we realize we can celebrate Palm Sunday in a campground, or worshipping in secret in places where Christians are being persecuted, we fully expect this one will be especially blessed for us.
When I wrote this “My Psalm” the dream was just beginning that we would have a new ministry space. Anticipation is a great thing. Tenebrae and Good Friday will follow, and a glorious Easter await us with Hallelujahs, Amens, and Thanksgiving.
MY PSALM 313 HOSANNA AND PRAISE
Almighty Father, Prince of Peace, Holy Spirit my comfort,
What joy to come with songs of joy
To pray to Your Presence in heaven this day,
Lifting Your Name, Almighty. in overflowing praise.
Dear Father, You sent Your Son to fill our hearts
With the joy of our salvation.
The fountains and springs and rivers and oceans
Shout Your Name in exultant praise and worship.
The very stones rise up to proclaim the Son of David
The promised Son of God from prophecy foretold,
And we raise our Hosannas and honor Your Name.
Lord Jesus, we thank You, Priest, Prophet, our King!
With acclimation we witness Your Presence among us
Sent as a Child bedded in straw, Your rustic nursery,
Yet hailed by angels, shepherds, and wise kings
Who knew the world had suddenly changed
The night of your birth.
We knew You as Teacher, as Messenger, Healer, Preacher
For You proclaimed that Your Father, our God
Reached down to raise us Adopted as heirs,
His very own chosen, His children, sons and daughters
Created, related, elated to call Him, Abba, Father.
You walked dusty roads, slept where You roamed
To tell all nations of Your Father’s love.
Foregoing earth’s pleasure, You sacrificed all
To here proclaim salvation’s good word.
Although The King, You became mere mortal
A man among men, a servant to all
So we could become Yours, in Your eternal kingdom,
An irony we never, will never, comprehend.
You entered Jerusalem, conquering servant King
riding on a colt, not at stallion,
Children and crowds, fickle admirers
Celebrated, then reviled your name.
With palms and hosannas they greeted
Yet deserted at the base of the cross,
You looked on them then with compassion,
Forgive them, for they know not what they do.
And we now know, on dark Gethsemane
Your Father loved us enough to send You
His only Son, yes, You, Jesus the Christ
To be the blessed sacrifice to bear the sins of the world.
Yes, my sins were shed with Your blood that day,
Atonement for my past, today, and tomorrow,
For never could I come to Your Eternal Presence
The throne room of Almighty, Holy God
Without Your precious Blood given freely that day.
And Holy Spirit, my Comforter, Intercessor,
You called me to faith, even called me by name,
The mystery internal that prompted my heart
To understand God’s message brought here to my soul.
Thanks overflowing for letting me see
The story of creation to redemption and His living in me.
Because united, Father, Son, Holy Spirit Triune
I now know the import of that love sacrificed,
And yearn to be borne one day to Your Presence
With clouds of witnesses already worshiping there.
I’ll add my voice to the oceans and rivers
And stones and mountains and all of creation
To glorify, praise, and worship Your Name
With the angels and martyrs, and mere folks like me.
’Round Your Throne, in Your Presence,
Abba, Father, My Lord. Amen.
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