Walking with Jesus: To Jerusalem
The Transformative Power of Truly Knowing Jesus
As Palm Sunday approaches, we're reminded of a pivotal moment in history when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a humble donkey. The streets were lined with cheering crowds, waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!" But beneath this jubilant scene lies a profound question that echoes through the ages: Do we truly know Jesus?
This question isn't just a matter of historical curiosity. It's a deeply personal inquiry that has the power to transform our lives and our relationship with God. As we explore this theme, we'll uncover the stark difference between being a fan of Jesus and truly knowing Him as our King and Savior.
The scene in Jerusalem that day was electric. People had heard about Jesus - His teachings, His miracles, His challenges to the religious and political establishment. They were excited, hopeful, and ready for change. But there was a crucial misunderstanding at play.
When asked who Jesus was, the crowds replied, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." They saw Him as a powerful prophet, perhaps like Elijah or Jeremiah of old. But they missed the fuller truth of His identity as the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
This misunderstanding wasn't new. Earlier, when Jesus had asked His disciples, "Who do people say I am?", they gave similar answers - John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. It was only Peter who declared, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
The contrast is stark. The majority saw Jesus as a prophet, while only a few recognized Him as the promised Messiah. This divide between surface-level appreciation and deep, transformative knowledge of Jesus continues today.
Many of us might consider ourselves fans of Jesus. We like His teachings, we're inspired by His compassion, we're amazed by His miracles. But do we truly know Him as our King and Savior?
The people of Jerusalem wanted a king who matched their expectations - a powerful military leader who would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel's glory. Instead, Jesus came as a humble king, riding on a donkey's colt, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah:
"See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
This image of a lowly king challenges our natural inclinations. We often want a king who exudes power, rides a majestic stallion, and leads a formidable army. But Jesus demonstrates a different kind of kingship - one marked by humility, meekness, and sacrificial love.
The Greek word for "meek" used in the Beatitudes doesn't imply weakness, but rather controlled strength, gentleness, and humility. Jesus exemplified this meekness, putting aside His own desires to follow God's will and offer salvation to humanity.
As we reflect on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, we're confronted with a crucial truth: Jesus might not be the king we want, but He's the king we need. He came not to overthrow earthly powers, but to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God.
This reconciliation is at the heart of Jesus' mission as the ultimate peacemaker. The Bible's concept of peace isn't just about avoiding conflict; it's about active reconciliation based on justice and righteousness. Jesus took the initiative to make peace between God and humanity, offering forgiveness and restoration through His death and resurrection.
The Apostle Paul beautifully articulates this in Colossians 1:21-22:
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."
Jesus not only reconciles us to God but calls us to be peacemakers in our relationships with others. He teaches that our worship is incomplete if we harbor ill will towards others or know that someone has something against us. We're called to actively pursue reconciliation, to "live at peace with everyone" as far as it depends on us.
As we approach Holy Week, we're faced with a sobering reality. The same crowds that shouted "Hosanna!" on Palm Sunday would cry "Crucify him!" just a few days later. Their superficial admiration for Jesus quickly turned to rejection when He didn't meet their expectations.
This dramatic shift serves as a warning. If we don't truly know Jesus - if our relationship with Him is based solely on what we want Him to be rather than who He truly is - we risk turning away when challenges arise or when He doesn't conform to our expectations.
So, as we wave our metaphorical palm branches and shout our own "Hosannas," let's pause and ask ourselves: Do we truly know Jesus? Or are we merely fans, cheering from the sidelines without committing our hearts fully to Him?
Knowing Jesus goes beyond admiring His teachings or being amazed by His miracles. It means recognizing Him as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. It means embracing His humble kingship and allowing His peace-making love to transform our lives.
As we journey through Holy Week towards the cross and the empty tomb, let's seek to deepen our knowledge of Jesus. Let's move beyond surface-level appreciation to a transformative relationship with our humble King and peace-making Savior.
May we not be content with being mere fans of Jesus, but strive to truly know Him, allowing His love and truth to shape our lives. In doing so, we open ourselves to the fullness of life and peace that He offers - not just on Palm Sunday, but every day of our lives.
As Palm Sunday approaches, we're reminded of a pivotal moment in history when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a humble donkey. The streets were lined with cheering crowds, waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!" But beneath this jubilant scene lies a profound question that echoes through the ages: Do we truly know Jesus?
This question isn't just a matter of historical curiosity. It's a deeply personal inquiry that has the power to transform our lives and our relationship with God. As we explore this theme, we'll uncover the stark difference between being a fan of Jesus and truly knowing Him as our King and Savior.
The scene in Jerusalem that day was electric. People had heard about Jesus - His teachings, His miracles, His challenges to the religious and political establishment. They were excited, hopeful, and ready for change. But there was a crucial misunderstanding at play.
When asked who Jesus was, the crowds replied, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." They saw Him as a powerful prophet, perhaps like Elijah or Jeremiah of old. But they missed the fuller truth of His identity as the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
This misunderstanding wasn't new. Earlier, when Jesus had asked His disciples, "Who do people say I am?", they gave similar answers - John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. It was only Peter who declared, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
The contrast is stark. The majority saw Jesus as a prophet, while only a few recognized Him as the promised Messiah. This divide between surface-level appreciation and deep, transformative knowledge of Jesus continues today.
Many of us might consider ourselves fans of Jesus. We like His teachings, we're inspired by His compassion, we're amazed by His miracles. But do we truly know Him as our King and Savior?
The people of Jerusalem wanted a king who matched their expectations - a powerful military leader who would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel's glory. Instead, Jesus came as a humble king, riding on a donkey's colt, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah:
"See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
This image of a lowly king challenges our natural inclinations. We often want a king who exudes power, rides a majestic stallion, and leads a formidable army. But Jesus demonstrates a different kind of kingship - one marked by humility, meekness, and sacrificial love.
The Greek word for "meek" used in the Beatitudes doesn't imply weakness, but rather controlled strength, gentleness, and humility. Jesus exemplified this meekness, putting aside His own desires to follow God's will and offer salvation to humanity.
As we reflect on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, we're confronted with a crucial truth: Jesus might not be the king we want, but He's the king we need. He came not to overthrow earthly powers, but to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God.
This reconciliation is at the heart of Jesus' mission as the ultimate peacemaker. The Bible's concept of peace isn't just about avoiding conflict; it's about active reconciliation based on justice and righteousness. Jesus took the initiative to make peace between God and humanity, offering forgiveness and restoration through His death and resurrection.
The Apostle Paul beautifully articulates this in Colossians 1:21-22:
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."
Jesus not only reconciles us to God but calls us to be peacemakers in our relationships with others. He teaches that our worship is incomplete if we harbor ill will towards others or know that someone has something against us. We're called to actively pursue reconciliation, to "live at peace with everyone" as far as it depends on us.
As we approach Holy Week, we're faced with a sobering reality. The same crowds that shouted "Hosanna!" on Palm Sunday would cry "Crucify him!" just a few days later. Their superficial admiration for Jesus quickly turned to rejection when He didn't meet their expectations.
This dramatic shift serves as a warning. If we don't truly know Jesus - if our relationship with Him is based solely on what we want Him to be rather than who He truly is - we risk turning away when challenges arise or when He doesn't conform to our expectations.
So, as we wave our metaphorical palm branches and shout our own "Hosannas," let's pause and ask ourselves: Do we truly know Jesus? Or are we merely fans, cheering from the sidelines without committing our hearts fully to Him?
Knowing Jesus goes beyond admiring His teachings or being amazed by His miracles. It means recognizing Him as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. It means embracing His humble kingship and allowing His peace-making love to transform our lives.
As we journey through Holy Week towards the cross and the empty tomb, let's seek to deepen our knowledge of Jesus. Let's move beyond surface-level appreciation to a transformative relationship with our humble King and peace-making Savior.
May we not be content with being mere fans of Jesus, but strive to truly know Him, allowing His love and truth to shape our lives. In doing so, we open ourselves to the fullness of life and peace that He offers - not just on Palm Sunday, but every day of our lives.