Palm Sunday

Our community is made up of broken and shattered people, an unbelieving and twisted generation blind to the majesty of God. But Jesus… The unclean spirit shattered the boy, but Jesus healed him. The people standing and watching were an unbelieving and twisted generation, but Jesus went to Jerusalem to heal them. The people of Jerusalem were a people blind to the majesty of God, but Jesus died to reveal the majesty of God and give them life. He gave his life to give them and us life. Mac Powell’s contemporary worship song By His Wounds reflects on this truth using the words of Isaiah 53:5:

By His Wounds 
Mac Powell

He was pierced for our transgressions 
He was crushed for our sins 
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him 
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

By His wounds we are healed! This is the song of life that we have for a broken world as we approach this coming Resurrection Sunday.

The day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey he was chastised by the Pharisees, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples” (Luke 19:39). He responded, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40). They failed to see the power and authority of the One and Only Son of the Father. They looked to religious activity, law, and self-discipline to bring about spiritual life. They failed to understand that they were as broken, battered, and oppressed as the boy with the unclean spirit. It is not religion that will brings us freedom. It is not spirituality that brings us freedom. It is not a pastor, or the church that brings us freedom. It is the power of God revealed in the Son of God that brings freedom. All we need to do is believe.

Jesus rode into town being worshiped and praised, yet the townspeople said, “Who is this?” God was in their midst and they were clueless. God is at work in our community. Are you aware that he is here and that he is at work? Who are you praying for as he works in our midst? Not everyone who sees, believes, and not everyone who believes saw something that left them speechless. Salvation is not about the power of God to WOW people. It is about the power of God to open people’s eyes, and transform their hearts. That is why evangelism starts, not with means and methods, but with prayer. As we approach Resurrection Sunday, who are you praying for? May God open their eyes to see and believe.