Hosanna in the Highest (April 2,2020)

They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

Matthew 21:7-9

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter that begins the Holy Week. It is the day that we remember and celebrate when Jesus entered into Jerusalem as Savior and King. As Jesus rode a donkey into the town of Jerusalem, a large crowd gathered and laid palm branches and their cloaks across the road, giving Jesus the royal treatment. Hundreds of people shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 'Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.' (The prophecy is cited from Zechariah9:9and Isaiah62:11).

Jesus had become somewhat of a celebrity among people who had heard of the miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead, and they wanted to see Him and treat Him like a king. But Jesus was not arriving to be their king on account of Lazarus; He was already a king and His kingdom is not of this world. Jesus’ glory would be greater than that of a local king.

Palm Sunday is the beginning of the last week of Jesus’ life on earth.  A week later, He would be crucified on a cross outside of Jerusalem on a hill called Calvary.  He was crucified for our sins so that we could be reconciled to God, and have a relationship with Him.  Palm Sunday is a great reminder that God has not forgotten us and that in fact He loves us.  We have wandered from Him and He has relentlessly pursued us because of His unconditional and unfailing love.   He is pursuing us now and attempting to draw us closer to Him. How will we respond?

Palm Sunday was the culminating week of all that Jesus came to do for us.  As Jesus hung on the cross and He prepared to breathe His last breath on the cross, He declared “It is Finished!”, meaning He completed the work the Father sent Him to do, for our salvation.  

This is a good time for us to remember that He came - not first to save us, but first to be with us; not to die so that we wouldn't have to, but to die so that we would know how to.  He did not just come to die for us, but to teach us how to live a life connected to the Father in intimacy and obedience.  He came to teach us how to live a crucified life and be our true self- the unique person God created us to be.  Let’s live our lives as the person God created us to be- authentically- and in communion with the Father.  It is when we live as our true self that we bring glory to His Name.

Much Blessings & Love, Amazingly Graced, Your Servant,

Pastor John Masis

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God With Us).Isaiah 7:14

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.Galatians 2:20

Let's keep our Faith Level above our Fear Level Our Worship Level above our Worry Level Our Praise Level above our Panic Level

We declare in Jesus Name:

No evil shall befall us, nor any plague come near our dwelling. Psalm 91:10

He will keep in Perfect Peace, whose mind is stayed on Him! Isaiah 26:3

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will trust in the Name of the Lord Our God! Psalm 20:7

Let’s keep praying for each other, wisdom for our gov’t leaders, God’s healing virtue to flow to the sick, the church to respond with God’s compassion and heart, and the eradication of this virus once and for all.

Check out this YouTube video of the worship song: Hosanna by Hillsong. You’ll be blessed.