Jesus Enters in Triumph: Will We Reject Him Too?
A Holy week Series.
As Holy Week Begins on Palm Sunday, let us reflect on the salvation Christ brings and reflect on our lives.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God’s embodiment on Earth, was embraced by mankind. On Palm Sunday Christ was celebrated and welcomed in triumph as the “Messiah”. Until mankind, predictably, turned on Him. In our sinful nature we are easily mislead by many things: sin itself, deference to powerful (also sinful) leaders, pride and fear. As men and women we idolize ourselves, we fall over and over in our daily lives and throughout history. But the good news - “THE” “Good News” - is that Jesus redeems each of us for our sins - if only we repent and earnestly seek to sin no more.
Jesus defeated death on the cross, not just death of the body that will be raised to him in paradise at the judgement. Jesus defeated death of the soul - the death we impose on ourselves through sin. By His Cross and Resurrection He has ensured a path for us to be redeemed, despite our sin. Solely by His grace and mercy, our souls can avoid the death we impose on ourselves, the death that separates us from God. But that path is narrow. Jesus did not create a “golden ticket” that creates salvation even if we sin. He gave us path that is narrow for salvation:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14
The People Reject Jesus
As Jesus ministered to men on earth he was sought for His love, His wisdom, His guidance, healing and his saving power from sin. He was embraced by those who rejected their sin and embraced His ways and His path. Others would describe His path as “too hard” and smile and wave but could not follow it. Or they would violently reject this path and revel in their sin (as so many do today).
What many sought from Jesus was earthly gain brought by a Messiah they thought would restore their earthly kingdoms to power over the kingdoms of others. This, ultimately, was the goal of Judas the betrayer and so many others. But what few sought was the true Messiah, the one who gave them access to the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
When given a choice of embracing God Himself on earth and in their midst, they instead rejected Him. Instead, they chose to free a murderer from the governing authority and demanded - DEMANDED - that Christ be murdered by crucifixion by the earthly rulers.
The Crowds chose to follow the leaders of the day rather than God in their midst.
Individuals did what was good in their own eyes and rejected Jesus and what He offers.
Triumph in Jesus Requires Sacrifice
The Resurrection of Jesus allows the path for us to defeat the death of our souls through sin. But it means sacrifice. We must choose what is more important - our own slavery to sin, or our liberation through embracing the Grace and Mercy of the Triune God. God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit - God, three in one!
Will we accept the sinful nature and actions of earthly authorities or will we take the harder path to reject the sinful things they bring to our time on earth? Will will allow authorities to damage the lives of the innocent through their actions? Or will we stand up for the innocent?
Will we embrace deadly sins - pride, greed, lust, envy, anger, gluttony and sloth?
Or, instead, will we embrace saving virtues - Faith, Hope Charity, Fortitude, Temperance, Prudence and Justice?
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Do not choose the easy path that leads to destruction. Instead embrace Jesus and enter through the Narrow Gate for salvation.
Avoid the slavery of sin and enter through the Narrow Gate for true freedom.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery”. Galatians 5:1