Today is Palm Sunday! And though Sundays aren’t traditionally “counted” in the 40 days of Lent, I didn’t send out a post yesterday because it was a bit…let’s find a good word….chaotic? Yes….I think “chaotic” would be accurate. =)
I was awoken very early in the morning by my long-suffering husband with these words: “You need to wake up….there’s been a sort of disaster…” I could tell by his tone that whatever it was, it wasn’t a DISASTER, just a disaster….so I jumped up to learn he had just gotten a call from our daughter downstairs telling him “the house was broken”, she could hear water running somewhere and her bed had become an island in the middle of a rising “Lake Warren!”
So….the day was spent in repair calls, soppy clean-up and many changes in plans for all of us. Thus….a Sunday – not Saturday – Day 34. “Hosanna! Save Us!” Oh, how I love me some irony… =)
I’ve chosen to share an excerpt from last year’s Palm Sunday blog post with some following thoughts about my song selection for today. It’s the first time I’ve gone back and taken a peek at 2015’s Lenten devotional, and though I remember writing the words, it still gave me fresh things to think about for this season, so I am praying it will be the same for you:
“Today is Palm Sunday – the day we remember Jesus’ “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem. On that day so long ago, the city was packed as people came from all over the region to celebrate the Jewish Passover. Jesus rode through the streets on a donkey as people lined the path with their coats, waved palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
I imagine the scene was as much political rally as festive parade. By waving palms and running alongside him, crying “Hosanna!”, they were, in fact, crying for him to become their King. He seemed the best hope this small nation had seen in some time and they were ready for revolution!
This last week of the Lenten season is referred to by some as “Holy Week” or “Passion Week.” It begins the last week of the life of Jesus, and though he had already suffered ridicule, being run out of town, had many followers reject him because of his hard teachings, and even faced death threats, it was nothing compared to what lay ahead during this final week….
The very crowds who waved palm branches and hailed him as King would only days later shout “Crucify him….crucify him!” when given the choice to set him free. As it turned out, Jesus wasn’t the savior they were looking for, and disappointment quickly turned to disdain….
The English (and also Greek) word “hosanna” comes from a Hebrew phrase hoshiya na. And that Hebrew phrase is found one solitary place in the whole Old Testament, Psalm 118:25, where it means, “Save, please!”, or sometimes “Save now” or Please save!”, and it is a cry to God for help. They were finally daring to anticipate a leader that would rally them together to empower them to stand up to Rome and claim their homeland. “Save us!” was entirely appropriate for them…..
…just as it’s appropriate for us today. We are a resurrection people; we know, even as we remember the last week of our Savior’s life that it will end in glory and power. No amount of darkness will conceal his glorious light; He will rise and death will be defeated!
But still…..if we are honest….some of us are still lingering at the parade. Our “Hosanna”s are intermingled with “Save us!” as we carry heavy burdens of our own. Our expectations haven’t been met exactly as we planned, and we’re looking to Jesus to put it all back together, to save us…..in the way we wish to be saved.
If there is anything I have learned while walking, running, stumbling and getting up again on this unexpected and most unwelcome road of sorrow, it is that Jesus cares about those who linger at the edges of the crowd. He understands our questions and our disappointments, and His love remains steadfast and true. Those people who shouted, “Crucify him!”? He loved them too, and died for them just the same. That’s what a true savior does…
As we walk these last few days together, it is my heart’s cry that we know what it is to be saved….rescued from the prisons of unbelief, disappointment, false expectations and pride. Our salvation may not come in the way we believe it should, but will always come in the way Jesus knows we need.”
I realized a few things when re-reading this year-old entry; old stories can reveal fresh truths when we have a heart to perceive them, people are people no matter the century, and mostly….I really, really want to be rescued. I do! I want to see Jesus ride up on a big white horse, and with powerful arm, swoop me up on the back of his horse and ride me away to safety. I know….it’s cheesy, and wholly romantic, but that’s the kind of savior my heart needs right now. And this song by Kristian Stanfill and Passion reminds us that, though today might not be the day I get to see Jesus ride up on a big white horse, he will one day, and I’m ready….I’m so ready!
“Even so, come….Lord Jesus, come!” <3
Even So, Come
Kristian Stanfill – Passion
All of creation
All of the earth
Make straight a highway
A path for the Lord
Jesus is coming soon
Call back the sinner
Wake up the saint
Let every nation shout of Your fame
Jesus is coming soon
Like a bride waiting for her groom
We’ll be a Church ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
There will be justice
All will be new
Your name forever
Faithful and true
Jesus is coming soon
Like a bride waiting for her groom
We’ll be a Church ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
So we wait
We wait for You
God, we wait
You’re coming soon
So we wait
We wait for You
God, we wait
You’re coming soon
Like a bride waiting for her groom
We’ll be a Church ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing
Like a bride waiting for her groom
We’ll be a Church ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
