Hosanna! Hosanna!
Today is Palm Sunday and this morning I was reading the gospels where Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell of this day in the life of Jesus. Jesus had made a long journey through Israel from Capernaeum, on the north shore of the Sea of Gallilee, south toward Jerusalem where He would be crucified, buried and raised from the dead. This journey included teaching and miracles and the Transfiguration. As the journey came to a close, He and His disciples passed through the ancient city of Jericho and headed for Jerusalem, stopping in Bethany - about 2 miles outside of the city.
Bethany was the town where Jesus' dear friends, Lazarus, Mary, and Martha lived. It was in Bethany that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. And when He and His disciples arrived in Bethany for the last time, they dined with these dear friends at Simon the Leper's home. And Mary lovingly washed His feet with expensive perfume mixed with her tears before drying them with her own hair while Martha helped with the meal and Lazarus reclined at the table with Him. Many people gathered around this home in hopes of catching a glimpse of Jesus - and of Lazarus.
John 12 says in verses 9-11 The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus. People wanted to see for themselves the one who could raise a man from the dead and the one who had been raised. Jesus knew that His enemies were plotting to take His life. Do you think Lazarus knew he was in danger, too? Did the threat of death matter for a man who had seen the stone on his grave from the inside as it moved to allow him to walk in new life?
Bethany was a place of life for Lazarus and glory for Jesus that foretold of the life and glory to come in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. It is fitting that it was chosen as the starting point for the Triumphal Entry occurring on Palm Sunday. Surely, in this town where many had believed in Jesus after seeing Him bring life to dead Lazarus, there would be great worship and adoration to annoint Him and encourage His heart as He made His way to Jerusalem. And this worship and adoration was bold and loud and beautiful and drowned out the death cries of those who wanted to take His life - and the life of Lazarus. Nothing could stop this praise parade from occurring. And it swelled from Bethany to Jerusalem.
On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel." Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, "FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY'S COLT." These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. John 12:12-17
The small town of Bethany was a place of amazing miracles, sweet friendship, blessed annointing, and salvation. The people who gathered there truly loved Jesus and gave true worship that day. There was no way to quiet them from giving testimony of the life that could be found only in Him as they followed Him into Jerusalem. Like Lazarus, we have been raised to life by His hand. And, like Lazarus, His enemies want to stop us from living. But, like Lazarus was probably thinking that day, we do not have to fear death for we know the One who brings life. Because Lazarus had known life with Jesus and death in Him and lived again to tell the story, he was probably shouting the loudest on that Palm Sunday. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna to the King!
In my heart and mind, as I was reading this passage, I began to praise and declare Hosannas to the King. I am like those people who have seen Him call the dead out from the tomb to walk in new life. I have believed and so I will praise! Hosanna! I felt as if I was in Bethany waiting for Him to come out of Simon's house and hoping for a glimpse of this amazing man and of the one walking in new life. Hosanna! Hosanna! I prayed that my life, on this Palm Sunday, like Lazarus, would be a garland of praise, a fragrant annointing around the neck of my King, a palm laid before Him to honor Him, and a song of truth and glory jubilantly raised to His great name. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna to the King!
Praising louder than the stones,
amy
Luke 19:36- 40 As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: "BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"
Bethany was the town where Jesus' dear friends, Lazarus, Mary, and Martha lived. It was in Bethany that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. And when He and His disciples arrived in Bethany for the last time, they dined with these dear friends at Simon the Leper's home. And Mary lovingly washed His feet with expensive perfume mixed with her tears before drying them with her own hair while Martha helped with the meal and Lazarus reclined at the table with Him. Many people gathered around this home in hopes of catching a glimpse of Jesus - and of Lazarus.
John 12 says in verses 9-11 The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus. People wanted to see for themselves the one who could raise a man from the dead and the one who had been raised. Jesus knew that His enemies were plotting to take His life. Do you think Lazarus knew he was in danger, too? Did the threat of death matter for a man who had seen the stone on his grave from the inside as it moved to allow him to walk in new life?
Bethany was a place of life for Lazarus and glory for Jesus that foretold of the life and glory to come in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. It is fitting that it was chosen as the starting point for the Triumphal Entry occurring on Palm Sunday. Surely, in this town where many had believed in Jesus after seeing Him bring life to dead Lazarus, there would be great worship and adoration to annoint Him and encourage His heart as He made His way to Jerusalem. And this worship and adoration was bold and loud and beautiful and drowned out the death cries of those who wanted to take His life - and the life of Lazarus. Nothing could stop this praise parade from occurring. And it swelled from Bethany to Jerusalem.
On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel." Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, "FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY'S COLT." These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. John 12:12-17
The small town of Bethany was a place of amazing miracles, sweet friendship, blessed annointing, and salvation. The people who gathered there truly loved Jesus and gave true worship that day. There was no way to quiet them from giving testimony of the life that could be found only in Him as they followed Him into Jerusalem. Like Lazarus, we have been raised to life by His hand. And, like Lazarus, His enemies want to stop us from living. But, like Lazarus was probably thinking that day, we do not have to fear death for we know the One who brings life. Because Lazarus had known life with Jesus and death in Him and lived again to tell the story, he was probably shouting the loudest on that Palm Sunday. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna to the King!
In my heart and mind, as I was reading this passage, I began to praise and declare Hosannas to the King. I am like those people who have seen Him call the dead out from the tomb to walk in new life. I have believed and so I will praise! Hosanna! I felt as if I was in Bethany waiting for Him to come out of Simon's house and hoping for a glimpse of this amazing man and of the one walking in new life. Hosanna! Hosanna! I prayed that my life, on this Palm Sunday, like Lazarus, would be a garland of praise, a fragrant annointing around the neck of my King, a palm laid before Him to honor Him, and a song of truth and glory jubilantly raised to His great name. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna to the King!
Praising louder than the stones,
amy
Luke 19:36- 40 As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: "BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"
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