As a child, I remember Palm Sunday. We waved palm branches while the congregation sang, “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” with its verse: “Into the city I’d follow the children’s band, Waving the branch of a palm tree high in my hand.” It ended with “Shouting Hosanna, Jesus is King!”(William H. Parker, Public Domain.)
In my Psalm I wrote about three triumphal entries of Jesus. May they remind us of the important implications of Holy Week, the joyous expectations, the last words of Christ before the crucifixion which paid the ransom for our sins, and the reason God sent His beloved Son to live among us. Please spend time this week in worship, and pledge to not be the fickle crowd who substantially changed their shouts from Hosanna to Crucify Him a few short days later. Decisions made to follow Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, may have earthy results in misunderstanding, in scorn, in social derision, in persecution, even. But that’s nothing compared to the eternal consequences of ignoring the Messiah’s purpose and the abundant life possible only by discipleship.
As for me and my house, we will follow the Lord. We pray for those who misunderstand the gospel, for those who reject Jesus’ teachings, for those who worship themselves and materiaism this fleeting world offers. We pray for those who are persecuted, even martyred for their belief, and tell each other the stories of Jesus.
MY PSALM 340 THREE TRIUMPHAL ENTRIES
I Palm Sunday
All praise to the King of Kings
Lord of Lord, who comes
In the name of The Almighty
Hosanna!
He rides mounted on a donkey
As prophesied,
To praises and cheers from the crowd.
He enters Jerusalem,
Palm fronds and garments thrown down,
Proclaimed as King of Kings
The very Son of God.
II The Ascension
Lift high the gates, lift high the ancient doors,
Lift up your heads,
The King of Glory is coming in
Ascended from earth
Where He proclaims salvation
Through His perfect sacrifice.
Bow down and praise the
King of Kings, Lord of Lords.
Prepare a place for Him
At the right hand of the Father
For He is the King of Glory.
III On the Last Day
Trumpeters, prepare to announce the King.
Jesus, Triumphant Lord,
Your Kingdom is announced.
Your third triumphant entry begins
“The kingdom of the world has become
The Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ
And He will reign forever and ever.”
The message, shouted so all the earth will hear.
The temple is opened, the ark is revealed,
Jesus sits upon the throne, appearing in authority,
And returns to judge the living and the dead.
Let us who have ears to hear and eyes to see
Behold the Lord Jesus in His three triumphal entries
Into our world and for our sake
Because of the mercy and love Almighty Father,
The atonement of our precious Jesus Christ,
Who for our sakes, took on flesh
To become part of our world for just a little while,
And for the Holy Spirit
Who keeps our souls safe to see
The final victory of the Lamb, The Lion, the Holy One,
Emanuel, the Incarnate Son of God, Son of Man,
And our beneficent Savior,
Jesus Christ our Lord.[1]
[1] Previously published in Beyond Easter: Ascension and Pentecost. Betty Whitaker Jackson
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