Are You Prepared To Proclaim The Good News To All?

When we talk about Palm Sunday, people in all parts of the world are observing yearly this special event of the life of Jesus near his hours of death.  Most of the Roman Catholic believers which are almost 65% of the total religious beliefs  specially in the Philippines believe that after the church has blessed the branches of palm trees by the holy water which is now using today, this will be used against all evil spirits or has something power in it that can ward off the evil spirits away from their homes or to block the coming in of these evil forces that bring bad luck in the family like sicknesses, bankruptcy in business, low grades of the students, brokenness of marital relationship and others.  Up to now you can see this branch of a palm tree on the door of every house in the Philippines.  That's why the yearly celebration of Palm Sunday, the selling of palm branches becomes a good and profitable business ( Google - OMF: Folk Christianity, 2016).

The Entry Of Jesus in Jerusalem.

In Matthew 21:1-11, the author narrates the victorious and joyful shouting of people when Jesus was entering Jerusalem by spreading their cloaks on the ground where Jesus was riding on a donkey and passing by the road to Jerusalem and wavering their palm branches to proclaim the coming of their expected Messiah or the one who will release them from the tyranny of the Roman Empire's maltreatment and exorbitant imposition of taxes and administration that brought many ordinary daily wage earners into extreme poverty.  It seemed that for all of them, it means, watch out Roman Empire for our Savior is now here to trample you down and Jesus will release us in a short while from your claws!  This event is the fulfillment of the old testament prophecy that says, " Say to the daughter of Zion.  See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

The False Understanding Of The Triumphal Entry.

If you will imagine, the Messiah that caused their rejoicing was just riding on a donkey that proves only of a weak and meekness Savior that came not to wage revolution or war but to save the Jewish people through peaceful way and not for the coming of a mighty deliverer riding on a tall and well built horse fitted for battle.  Because of their overwhelming experienced and saw with their eyes the miracles Jesus did,  they believed and assumed then that the Messiah that they were waiting for so many years has come in the person of Jesus, that's why they shouted altogether "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  "Hosanna in the highest!"  The crowds shouted these sentences and some had sang these loudly which they quoted from the book of  Psalm 118:26.  They were so amazed and declared Jesus as the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.  But they didn't understand how Jesus will save them and where they will be delivered from?

What Is The Meaning Of Jesus Answer To The Pharisees?

In Luke 19:39-40, some Pharisees requested Jesus to stop his disciples and the big crowds who are following him from shouting, rejoicing and celebrating jubilantly as if the big numbers of soldiers headed by their leaders came back victoriously from the battle caused this creates irritation and envy in the hearts of the religious leaders in Jerusalem.  The crowds can't stop their emotional feelings of joy cause Jesus has opened their minds through his authoritative teachings and made miracles before their eyes that led them to exalt him but led the chief priests to get so angry against him.   Jesus said, " if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." verse 40.  It meant only that nobody can stop the continuous growth of the kingdom of God.  The will of God will surely prevail and will continue to grow by his authoritative teachings and preaching and miraculous works then and  through the mighty works of the Holy Spirit now through his faithful followers.  The words of God will be shared to all the people in all parts of the world and various miracles will open the hearts and minds of the people and all men in all walks of life will be freed from the power of Satan and the truth will set them free John 8:32.  And if the people of God will not obey him and become lukewarm and will not speak for Christ, he will use even the stones to declare his good news of salvation to all.

The True Meaning Of The Triumphal Entry.

Jesus wept knowing that the crowds followed him because of the many miracles he did before their eyes but didn't understand clearly why he came here on earth and for them, his chosen nation.  The crowds understood that Jesus, whom they proclaimed prophet and Savior came to liberate and save them from the powerful hands of the Roman Empire.  They think of physical deliverance and not of the  spiritual reality of life.  For Jesus came because "he will save his people from their sins" Matthew 1:21.  Jesus think differently of the crowds that he should cure first the root cause of the problem which is spiritual issue of man and that is to save man from sin - its power and punishment that will results to spiritual restoration, physical healing and blessings.  The mind of man should be redeemed and changed first to become an instrument to restore life and to have meaning and purpose where love and care with righteousness will become the foundation of life, relationships and leadership.  A changed life will surely results to good, joyful, peaceful and blissful life Psalm 81:13-14.  But majority of the crowds were misled by Satan and because of their frustration to their expectation, the once who acclaimed and exalted Jesus on the pedestal and who shouted, Hosanna,  Hosanna, blessed be the name of the Lord, were let themselves to be influenced by the evil intent of the religious leaders and chose to shout for the release of Barabbas  and crucify Jesus on the cross!

Challenge To All.

The main reason why God sent his only Son Jesus on earth is to save men from sin - both from the power of Satan and its punishment in hell.  The problem of men to assure the salvation of his soul from eternal death in hell but rather to dwell with God in heaven permanently through good works are not enough to appease the wrath of a holy God.  Only Jesus, his precious Son is the once and for all offering for the forgiveness of sins of men.  The blood of animals are not enough so that God will forgive men of their sins, and only the blood of Jesus was the only acceptable offering for the salvation of mankind and this is the only reason why Jesus came here on earth, not just to liberate the Jewish people from the tyranny of the Roman Empire but from the wrath of a holy God and to liberate man from the power of Satan and sin that will save men from hell - the eternal separation of men from the presence of God, cause his holiness demands life - life and blood of his only precious Son Jesus and not the unworthy blood of the animals and pious acts of men. 

The triumphal entry in Jerusalem is the entry of Jesus near the feet of the mount of Calvary, the place where he will be hanged on the cross - the once and for all offering of his life, the only solution  to save men from hell.  The good news of salvation should be proclaimed until Jesus second coming and all true followers of Jesus Christ are expected to become faithful in proclaiming this good news.  If we will become quiet and ashamed of this mandate, God will use even the stones or other non-living things to proclaim the good news to all men.

Are you ready and willing to stand for Jesus and lead the unbelievers to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus today?

For more messages of life, forgiveness, salvation and victory over sin, visit our website at http://www.savelifewithjoy.com or go to our blogs at hopeandlifeforyou.com or Eugenio "EJ" Juarez and for you comments, suggestions and prayer requests, email us at agn623@gmail.com

May our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.  Hosanna, blessed be name of the Lord.