Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. The crowds go wild, throwing down their garments on the road to make way for Jesus. They were shouting, exclaiming, “Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” They welcomed Jesus with great fanfare, adoration, and recognition of who he is.
Just a few evenings later, early in the morning on Friday, they shook their fists at him, cheered as he was scourged and beaten, shouting curses and damnation on him. They went from a fan-crazed crowd to a gang of hatred and rejection.
We have now celebrated Resurrection Sunday this week. We cheered in church as the cloth was taken off the cross. We sang our hearts out with favorite hymns, such as, “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” and “I Know that My Redeemer Lives.” We served up favorite dishes and used the good china at our family dinners.
But now what are we going to do?
Will we go back to our lives and act as if the celebration never happened? Will we relegate it to just another cute holiday with the grandchildren? Will we harden our hearts and maybe even curse God when life does not go the way we want it to?
I propose we keep Resurrection Sunday in our hearts throughout the year, acknowledging his sacrifice each day. Let us remain thankful and aware of his presence, turning to him with gratefulness, thanksgiving, and rejoicing. Let us spend time in prayer daily and look into the Bible for comfort and strength.
Psalm 91 tells us, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” How do we “dwell”? Through prayer and Scripture reading. Where is this “secret place”? In the presence of the Lord. How do we enter into it? Through prayer, Bible reading, and asking him to join us in our day. And as we give him our attention, asking him to come be with us, he will cover us and our day with his “shadow” – with His Presence. He will fill our spirits with the confidence of his love. His Holy Spirit will go with us, leading us through our day, and strengthening our hearts.
Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” What a prayer! And this promise is ours today as we welcome God into our lives.
So, Friends, let us keep the Resurrection Celebration alive throughout the year. Do not relegate it to the back of the cupboard with the partially eaten chocolate Easter bunny. Let our hearts daily shout, “Hosanna to the King. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Welcome, welcome, Lord Jesus.”
