This is the final presentation of Jesus before his death. He was incarnated in the womb of Mary 33 years before. That’s when God presented him to the world. Look what Herod tried to do to him. When he was 12 years old the family had gone to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus stayed behind. Later his parents thought they had lost him. Jesus was and never has been lost. He was in the temple teaching the elders—they weren’t teaching him. He told them he was about his Father’s business. By that he presented himself. The woman of Samaria. The disciples. On and on Jesus presented himself to the people. Now it’s the final time. He called it “in this thy day” not his day but theirs, ours. There is no excuse for anyone, then or now. Even today in this far gone, hell bent world it is possible for people to be saved.
Here it is another Palm Sunday. It’s time for flowers to bloom but it’s also our day. It’s important what we do with it.
Luke 19: 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
Every day of life is a gift from God. I couldn’t help but think of those gone on when we were singing the “praise God” verse with Amazing Grace. We know they are praising God right now just as people were this day. When Jesus came over the Mount of Olives he came on a donkey. He had told his disciples to go get it and if the owner asked why to tell them the Master had need of it. There was no saddle for the donkey so the disciples took off their outer garments and made one for him. The weather in the mountains over there is similar to ours. It could have been cold. When others saw the disciples take off their garments they did the same thing and put them down as a highway for the Lord. Jesus had always walked everywhere. Now they saw him on a donkey starting up the back side of the mount to head over the top and down into Jerusalem. That little donkey started up carrying the Lord. No matter how hard the hills seem, hold out just like that donkey did. It wasn’t a big horse, just a little donkey, and it carried Jesus. Be willing to keep carrying Jesus with you. Lay your garments before him too. That means putting him first, a symbol of putting down the old garment.
Jesus wasn’t doing this for himself. It was for us. He didn’t parade himself around like we see so many do today. He borrowed everything he had. He even took our cross but not just for a while. We don’t have to die for our sins. He purchased our salvation on that old rugged cross.
The people said Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Doesn’t that sound like what the angels said when he was born! Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Never lost your praise for the Lord. The people made a way for the Lord with their garments and palm branches as they yelled their praise. The children joined in too. Zechariah 9:9 says Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Chapter 13:1 says in that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. It was Jesus.
The Pharisee “Christian” won’t make it up the mountain. We don’t have to be like them. Jesus rode the donkey. The Pharisees wouldn’t have done such a thing. They told Jesus to tell the children to be still. To that Jesus said if they didn’t praise him the rocks would. The Pharisees had come to stop the procession. The people thought Jesus “had arrived.” He would throw open his arms and say “I’m here!” Israel would be restored. The Romans wouldn’t rule. Jesus didn’t do that. He looked at them and began to cry. Beyond them he saw the hill called Golgotha where he would die. He looked beyond them to our day all the way to the end of the present world. He wept and said if thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
God is. He is the God of the living and if we could only grasp that this is our day, we’d be so much the better. Anyone can be saved. If all would turn themselves over to Jesus we’d have peace. We see him. We know him. The wicked don’t know. It’s our job to let them know. In a few days the disciples would scatter. Now is not the time for us to scatter. It’s time to stick with Jesus. So many keep sinning away the day all the while it’s another chance. When the last day comes there will be total destruction.
This is our day. Do what Jesus wants. Whatever is ahead as we go through this world, remember each day is the Lord’s day. People can still be saved. When that week was all said and done Jesus had prevailed. He arose victorious and he did it all for you and me.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 