“Long live the king!” “Hail Hitler!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Throughout time there have been shouts of acclamation to kings, leaders, and authorities. But as you can see, not all shouts of praise are equal in quality.
So, what gives worship its quality? Well, at least two things: 1) the character of the one who is praised, and 2) the expectation of the worshippers.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week–the last seven days of Christ’s earthly ministry. Good Friday and Easter Sunday are the grand events that Palm Sunday commences.
Palm Sunday invites us to ask a basic question: Who is this king of glory? Once we can see him for who he is, then, and only then, can we pick up our palm branches to welcome in the king truly for all he is.
True worship is bound up with the character of the king and our expectations for the king. This Palm Sunday, let us reconsider who King Jesus is and what our expectations for this King are, so that we can mourn his death and celebrate his resurrection truly and rightly, to God’s glory and our good.
Please read The Triumphal Entry in Luke 19:28-40 in preparation for Palm Sunday. Ask yourself a question: what do you expect from King Jesus? Why?
With grace and love for you LifeWay family,
Tim