Palm Sunday

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:1-13 NIV

This passage introduces us to the final week before Jesus went to the cross.; six days before the crucifixion, six days before Passover.  Let’s take a minute to think about those mentioned here.

• Lazarus – I find it interesting that Jesus spends time with Lazarus just a week before the resurrection as he was dead four days then Jesus spoke and he was raised from the dead. Perhaps a reminder to his disciples that death is subject to the authority of God in an attempt to prepare them for His own resurrection.
• Martha – It says that Martha served. Of course she did! Lest we forget the time that Jesus visited the house of Martha and her sister Mary earlier when Martha was serving and Mary was simply sitting at Jesus feet listening to what He said. Martha was quite upset that Mary wasn’t helping prepare the meal, and she asked Jesus to rebuke her for it. Jesus instead told Martha that she was worried about too many things and he commended Mary for choosing the more important thing to do. Lord, help us remember that there is nothing more important than sitting at your feet and listening to you!
• Mary – This was Mary’s shining hour. Her love for Jesus and desire to serve Him is evident as she brings her very best, most expensive perfume and pours it on His feet then wipes them with her hair. Mary had great respect for Jesus and her love for Him grew deeper each time she sat at His feet and listened to him speak.
• The crowds – A crowd of Jews came to hear Jesus and to see Lazarus. They were no doubt curious about the many things they had heard. Curiosity is good, but it’s not nearly enough. Jesus is looking for followers not just casual observers. Then there’s the crowd that had come into Jerusalem for the Passover and gathered to worship Jesus, waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna!” They were right to worship Him and spot on: He was blessed and He was the king of Israel. Yet I can’t help but wonder how many in this crowd were also in the crowd just days later shouting “Crucify him, crucify him.” There has always been, and still is, a lot of emotion surrounding Jesus, but emotion is not the same as commitment. Though our worship will often strike an emotional cord, it must be more than that, it must be accompanied by surrender and allegiance.
• Chief priests – Those who should have known the scriptures and stood in amazement as they saw their fulfillment in Jesus. They should have recognized their long awaited Messiah, but they were blinded by their own ideas. They were centered on themselves more than on God. Religion is no replacement for a relationship with God!
• Jesus – It’s no coincidence that all this is taking place 6 days before the Passover. If you recall the origin of the Passover is to mark the time when God was delivering His people from slavery in Egypt. Death was coming to the first born son in every family, but God told his people to sacrifice a lamb and spread the blood of the lamb across the doorpost of their home. When the angel of death passed through, he would see the blood and pass by their home, thus they would be safe. Jesus died on the cross to do the same thing for you and I. We are all slaves to sin and deserve death, but when we surrender our lives to God and ask that the blood of Jesus be accepted as punishment for our sins, we are saved from the punishment of death that we deserve! That’s why Jesus is called the “Lamb of God!”

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 NIV

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Romans 8:3 NLT

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22 NASB

As we reflect on this Palm Sunday may we learn from each of the characters mentioned in this passage and may we rejoice and express gratitude to the Lamb of God for taking upon Himself the punishment that we deserve! May our worship be sincere and accompanied by complete surrender and commitment.