Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy Week and the gradual end of Lent. It’s a signal for many Christians that Easter is just the following Sunday. It’s time to make plans for the Easter Celebrations. The truth is that it is more than all these.
Palm Sunday, or as some would call it – Passion Sunday, is the beginning of the enactment of the activities that took place when Jesus was preparing for his passion and death on the cross. Palm Sunday presents the enactment of Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem where he rides on a colt or donkey and enters Jerusalem. On his entry, the crowd rejoices at his appearance and sings: “Hossana to the Son of David!”! They hail Jesus and welcome him with the expectation that he was fulfilling a mandate in Jerusalem to take kingship, authority, and power (politically). But that was not Jesus’ mission. (We discuss this some other time but let’s focus on today’s points)
In Matthew’s gospel Chapter 21: 1 -11, we read about Jesus preparing for his entry into Jerusalem. With this, we wish to present just 2 points from the episode of his entry into Jerusalem for our reflection.
The Master is in need: What do you have to offer?
Firstly, Jesus had no colt, ass, or donkey. He requested for the colt he used today. Whether he had a pre-arrangement with the owner of the animal, wasn’t stated, but the words we are presented with are that: The Master/Lord has need of them.
If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord has need of them,”
This immediately brings our minds to the experience of the feeding of the 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish (Matthew 14:13-21). It was a boy that offered something. No one is too young or old to offer something for the Kingdom of God. What do we have to offer? Are we at the disposition of the Master? Do we allow the Master to access or make use of what we have? And what is it that the master wants? And what really do we have?
The master requires our time, our talents, and our treasures! The master requires our lives! The master requires these for the purpose of his will and for the love of the emancipation of his Kingdom. Today, on Palm Sunday, he presents himself as King and applies the use of the donkey to showcase his authority. The owner of the colt was disposed to serving the master, knowing that nothing we give the master can ever be lost.
The question is, if the Lord demands of your life for his service, would you be willing to offer it to him; knowing now that it won’t be lost? Remember Matthew 16: 24-26
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16: 24-26 (KJV)
It is God’s glory that shines on us, we don’t radiate any glory.
The second point I would like to share is that the Glory of God shines on us when the Lord uses us. We are nothing without God!
We can learn from the donkey. Today, the crowd spread clothes and branches on the path of the donkey… not because of the donkey, it was for Jesus. We all have value because God created us so, but our value shines brightest when we serve the Lord. When we make our time, talent, and treasures available for the Lord, there is more reward! We are spiritually elated and psychologically at peace. More importantly, we bring joy to others.
Some people actually carry out works of charity just to find some fulfillment. Our greatest value is when we are at the service of others and not ourselves. The desire to serve the self is self-worship and it is the attribute of the devil. The streams flow not for themselves and the trees bear fruit, flowers, and vegetation not for themselves. As human beings, our potentials and abilities are for the service of God and mankind. That is what the Lord requires of us; Love of God and love of neighbour.
Our leaders begin to take the wrong route to destruction immediately they desire others to live for them. And not our leaders living for others. Forgetting that on taking up the leadership position they had so much promised to come and serve. Remember that the inordinate desire for service of self, by self or by others is an attribute of the devil.
In conclusion of the second point, we must learn to be humble and realize that whatever position, ability, or capability is achieved by the grace of God. Should God remove His grace and His presence, we are like any other person on earth. We are no different, and no better, regardless of our education, qualification, or stratification. Only God makes the difference.
On a final note, we must make ourselves available for God’s service and we must be humble while in service. God bless you!