20 Apr 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Alleluia, an ongoing event, and earth reply, as others which have no hope, be ever with the Lord, believe that Jesus died and rose again, caught up together with them in the clouds, Charles Wesley, Christ is Risen today, Christ our Saviour is risen, Christ's Resurrection, Christians, church anthem for Easter, comfort one another with these words, comforting words, descend from heaven with a shout, Easter Sunday, eternal life, ever present effects, everlasting life, faith, fellowship, follow our risen Lord, forming habits, Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, hail the resurrection, Happy Easter, He is risen, he that believeth in me, holy spirit, Hosanna, Hosanna Save us now!, how to be in a relationship with God, I am the resurrection and the life, in newness of life, instill in us, Jesus Christ, king of glory, Lazarus, Lift up the name of Jesus, LOVE, marthat, mercy, miraculous occasion, my hope, raise your joys and triumphs high, remain unto the coming of the Lord, salvation, sing ye heavens, soul of bliss, teach us, the best feeling ever, the Lord himselff, the rapture of the church, the understanding that God still works today, thee we greet triumphant now, them which are asleep, though he were dead, thus to love, thy power to prove, to be ignorant, to ever lift our alleluias in praise, to meet the Lord in the air, whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die, wisdom, witnesses of the resurection, worship, ye sorrow not, yet shall he live
1 Corinthians 15:22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
HAPPY EASTER!
‘He is Risen! He is risen! Yes, Christ our Saviour has risen indeed! Alleluia!’ That’s the cry being heard all over the world today, as millions of Christians celebrate Easter Sunday, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, thus allowing all those who believe in Him to also be resurrected at the time enshrined by the Father. As Jesus said to Martha, the sister of Lazarus, before He raised him from the dead: ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead (may die), yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?’ (John 11:25-26)
And millions of Christians believe that on this Easter Sunday morning, as Christ shows His awesome power to give eternal life to all who sincerely believe in Him. And to celebrate this marvellous, miraculous occasion, today we’ll sing a song that’s rather appropriate, one titled ‘Christ Is Risen Today!’ It was mostly penned in 1739 by one of our great hymn writers, Charles Wesley, and is considered by many Christians as being the most definitive church anthem for Easter, as each verse is focused on stuff in Christ’s resurrection.
But before we get into the song, listen to this most interesting commentary. ‘In every worship service, the words we say and the actions we participate in are somehow shaping us. Perhaps without even being aware of it, worship is doing something to us – it’s forming habits and language inside of us to both teach us why we are in relationship with God, and how to be in relationship with God. One practice that many liturgists and hymn authors have brought into worship is describing an event that happened in the past (usually a moment from the Gospel story) as if it were happening today, in order to instill in us the understanding that, just as God worked in the lives of people two thousand years ago, He is still working today.
And The hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” is a perfect example of this. Right in the title is an indicator of the present tense: the word “is.” As we sing this song, we are first brought back two millennia as “witnesses” of the resurrection, and then we are also made aware that though the actual event of the resurrection happened once, it is in a sense an on-going event with ever-present effects. We are called today to live out of the resurrection, to follow our risen Lord in newness of life, and to ever lift our “alleluias” in praise.
Now, let’s turn to our song of praise, but first this most appropriate Intro from the Simple Series Musical ‘Merry Tree,’ featured on the album inspired by the message and mission of Billy Graham, ‘My Hope.’ Please declare with me: ‘We have gathered today to lift up the name of Jesus. We rejoice in His victory over sin and the cross. Our cries of ‘Hosanna! Save us now!’ have been answered. Our Redeemer has conquered death! And because we are certain of that, we have reason to celebrate!’
So finally, let’s offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise to heaven in a scintillating, up-tempo version, imagining ourselves as we sing, back there in the garden, like Mary Magdalene, two thousand years ago, the first to see and talk to Jesus after His resurrection. (smile)
Singing: ‘Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia! Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia! LOVE’S redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia! Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia! King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! Thee to know, Thy pow’r to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing, and thus to LOVE, Alleluia!’
Yes friends, wasn’t it wonderful seeing Jesus alive and kicking once again on that resurrection morn? It most certainly was! It was the best feeling ever, because then we knew for sure that if He rose from the grave, so would we also! As Bruh Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians: ‘But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept (have fallen asleep, died). For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.’ (1 Cor. 15:20-22)
Oh my faithful brethren, sweeter words were never spoken, for that means in due course, in the Lord’s time, we will also rise from the dead to live with Christ. And this passage from Bruh Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians gives us a better understanding of the process. ‘But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (have died), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead). For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump (trumpet) of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever (always) be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.’ (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
Yes my fellow believers, those are very comforting words. It’s oh so good to know that we will meet our LOVED ones who have gone before us in the Rapture of the Church, so that we can live with Christ forevermore. Please, let’s spend some time today, take a moment away from the celebrations and truly try to comprehend what that means for us all! And in closing, I wish us all a very Happy Easter my Scrip-Bit friends and family! Much LOVE!
…ONLY in Christ…can salvation and eternal life be found…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
24 Mar 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a peculiar combination, a welcome fit for a king, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord, captive death, conquered sin, den of thieves, Easter, Easter Sunday resurrection, eyes as of a flame of fire, faith, faithful and true, God Friday crucifixion, Holy Week, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to the son of David, in lowly pomp, Jesus, Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, LOVE, Messiah, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, Palm Sunday, rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion, Ride On ride on in majesty, ride on to die, rule with an iron fist, sad and wondering eyes, the angel hosts, the house of prayer, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee, the righteous judge, the sacrificial Lamb, thou hast perfected praise, thy Father on his sapphire throne, thy triumphs now begin, to see the approaching sacrifice, tragedy and victory, wisdom
Matthew 21:9. Hosanna to the son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Ah friends, the snow is over now and it’s dry and sunny, though somewhat chilly, on this blessed Sunday. And it’s one of the special Sundays in our Christian Calendar, that we call Palm Sunday, when Christ our Saviour rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on a king’s ride back then, a donkey, heralding His Messianic kingdom to come. So today we’ll sing a song expressly written in 1820 for this particular day with lyrics by Henry Millman and music by Lowell Mason. And it’s become such a favourite down through the years, that in 1907, John Julian, in his Dictionary of Hymnology, stated it was the most popular Palm Sunday Hymn in the English language at the time.
And I believe it is still amongst the most popular, with it’s wonderful title which acknowledges and celebrates Christ’s kingship, His upcoming battles and triumphs. So let’s sing ‘Ride On, Ride On In Majesty!’ Yes my faithful brethren, let’s sing it in a soulful, heartfelt, mid-tempo version, allowing our sweet sacrifices of praise to rise to high heaven with victory in our hearts and minds as we continue this Easter journey in Holy Week, that will lead to the most important foundation stone, the very core of our Christian faith, Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday!
Singing: ‘Ride on! ride on in majesty! Hark! all the tribes Hosanna cry! O Savior meek, pursue Thy road, With palms and scattered garments strowed. Ride on! ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die! O Christ! Thy triumphs now begin Over captive death and conquered sin. Ride on! ride on in majesty! The angel hosts beyond the sky Look down with sad and wondering eyes, To see the approaching sacrifice! Ride on! ride on in majesty! Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh; Thy Father on His sapphire throne, Awaits thee, His own, LOVED, anointed Son! Ride on! ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die; Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain! Then take, oh God! Thy power, and reign!’
Wow! What powerful lyrics my people! The hymn is so powerful that it was described by composer Stanley L. Osbourne as “Objective, robust, confident, and stirring, it possesses that peculiar combination of tragedy and victory which draws the singer into the very centre of the drama. It is this which gives the hymn its power and its challenge.” And he doesn’t lie, for just think of these unlikely juxtapositions of words and thoughts: ‘O Savior meek, pursue Thy road, With palms and scattered garments strowed…. ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die! Thy triumphs now begin Over captive death and conquered sin.’
I like that line ‘in lowly pomp ride on to die.’ Since when has pomp ever been lowly eh, for it’s basic meaning is ‘ceremony and splendid display, a show of magnificence.’ But our Jesus wasn’t ready to put on His splendid display, His show of magnificence just then. He’s waiting for when He comes as the righteous judge, astride His white stallion called ‘Faithful and True, with eyes as a flame of fire, and many crowns on His head, His name known only to Himself, clothed with a robe dipped in blood, while His heavenly armies dressed in fine, clean white linen follow Him on snorting white chargers. And out of His mouth extends a sharp sword, with which to smite the nations and then rule them with an iron fist. And on His robe and on His thigh the mighty and sovereign name is written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS!’ (Rev. 19:11-16)
Yes my fellow saints, that’s when our Lord and Saviour will really come with true pomp and glory! In the meanwhile, He’s keeping a low profile, being the sacrificial lamb, for our benefit. And we all know the Palm Sunday story, when Jesus came riding triumphantly into Jerusalem on a donkey and it’s colt, thus fulfilling the prophecy spoken by Zechariah: ‘’Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just (righteous), and having salvation; lowly (humble), and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.’ (Zech. 9:9)
And Jesus certainly fulfilled that prophecy on Palm Sunday! And did the daughters of Zion and Jerusalem ever rejoice and shout! Listen to how the Bible tells it: ‘And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed (spread) them in the way (road). And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.’ (Matt. 21:8-11)
Mama oh Mama! What a great sight that must have been in ole Jerusalem eh! Jesus riding stately and sedately on His kingly donkey, with clothes and tree branches strewn all around Him, and the multitude giving Him a welcome fit for the King He was. I wonder if He was waving to the crowd as royalty do these days. (smile) The poor and downtrodden must have LOVED Him immensely that day, especially as some time shortly after His triumphal procession, Jesus went into the temple and cast out all the crooks and con artists who sold and bought in the sacred house of God.
He overthrew the tables of the money changers and the seats of them that sold doves, telling them: ‘It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased (indignant). And said unto him, hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings (nursing infants) thou hast perfected praise? And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.’ (Matt. 21:13-17)
By the way, the quote above there, comes from above there, come from Psalm 8, where Bruh David writes:. ‘Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings (nursing infants) hast thou ordained (established) strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightiest still (silence) the enemy and the avenger.’
Oh friends, what a day that first Palm Sunday must have been, with Jesus coming into Jerusalem offering Himself to the nation of Israel as their long-awaited Messiah. Then cleansing the temple of the organized religious corruption found there, and then in typical Jesus fashion, simply walking away to find rest for His spirit. And yes, I know that by Friday, we’ll be holding our heads and bawling because of the crucifixion, but let’s remember that there could have been no Easter Sunday resurrection without the Good Friday crucifixion! Much LOVE!
don’t worry…our cries of Hosanna…please save…will be answered next Sunday…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
09 Apr 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Charles Wesley, Christ is Risen today, Easter Sunday, eternal life, fear not, filled with fear and great joy, his raiment white as snow, Hosanna, I am alive for evermore, I am the first and the last, if we be dead in Christ, king of glory, LOVE, Love's redeeming work is done, raise your eyes and triumphs high, save us, soul of bliss, the empty tomb, the resurrection of Christ, the very foundation of our faith, we rejoice in christ's victory over the cross, we shall also live with him
Revelation 1:17.Fear not: I am the first and the last.
It’s Sunday friends, Easter Sunday, and Christ has risen from the grave! Yes, He has! The tomb is empty, and He’s been seen walking in the garden. Glory Hallelujah! That makes this day, possibly the most marvellous, momentous and meaningful day in the history of mankind! Why? Because it means that since Christ has risen from the dead, and is now alive forever more, whosever believes in Him will also rise from the dead and have eternal life! Glory be, my fellow believers!
As Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Rome: ‘Now if we be dead (died) with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.’ (Rom. 6:8-9) We know that Jesus wasn’t the first person who was raised from the dead, but He was the first one who was raised, never to die again! That’s because with His resurrection He conquered Satan, fought him mano a mano, took away the keys of death from Him, left him powerless.
He says it quite clearly to John in Revelation as John lies like dead at His feet. ‘…Fear not: I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell (hades) and of death.’ (Rev. 1:17-18) That means our faith in Christ is absolutely worthwhile, we have been liberated from sin by His resurrection. But enough talk, let’s get to some worship, as we sing this old but wonderful hymn, written by the master hymnist Charles Wesley, and most appropriately titled, ‘Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, Alleluia!’
And we have an interesting introduction from the Simple Series musical ‘Mercy Tree’ which was based on the album inspired by the message and mission of Billy Graham, titled ‘My Hope.’ So, let’s declare it (awright!!!) together. ‘We have gathered today to lift up the name of Jesus. We rejoice in His victory over sin and the cross. Our cries of ‘Hosanna! Save us now!’ have been answered. Our Redeemer has conquered death! And because we are certain of that, we have reason to celebrate.’
Now, it’s time to get on with that celebration. Therefore, in an upbeat tempo, in loud and sincere voice, with the rampant joy in our hearts flowing out through our words and actions, let’s offer up our sweet sacrificial praises to heaven. Singing: ‘ Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia! Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia! King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing, and thus to LOVE, Alleluia!’
Ah friends, That’s such a beautiful collection of scriptural statements, based on a number of different places in the Bible, for instance, Matthew 28:6, Acts 2:32, 1 Peter 3:18 and Revelation 1:17-18, as well as the varying versions of Christ’s resurrection as outlined by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However, as the scholars tell us: ‘All four gospels essentially agree in reporting the facts of the Resurrection. The variety of details in each account supplement rather than contradict one another.’
We see in Matthew 28, where there was a great earthquake early on the morning of the resurrection, and when the Mary’s came to check out the situation, to finish embalming Christ, they found the giant stone that had guarded the tomb’s entrance rolled back by an angel of the Lord and he sat on it. ‘His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment (clothing) white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers (guards) did shake, and became as dead men.
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come see the place where he lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead: and, behold he goeth before you into Galilee; there ye shall see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.’ (Matt. 28:3-8)
Now isn’t that a rather interesting comment, the women were filled with fear and great joy? I guess such an important occasion studded with such immense surprise is able to produce those two emotions simultaneously. And I’m truly sorry my fellow saints that we have neither time nor space to get into the details of the other gospels, like specific accounts of Peter and John running to the tomb after hearing the news, Peter going in and finding it empty. Then Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus in the garden and taking Him for a groundskeeper, as well as the two disciples walking with Jesus along the road to Emmaus and not recognizing Him. And Jesus appearing to the disciples on the beach and in the Upper Room a few days later.
You’ll just have to read all the gospels to get the full gist of what happened, and how important Christ’s Resurrection was back then, and still is today. It’s the very foundation of our faith, for without it our faith is futile, without any sound basis. Bruh Paul says it quite clearly in his first epistle to the church at Corinth, when some questioned the resurrection. ‘But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain (futile), and your faith is also vain (futile).’ (1 Cor. 15:13-14)
It’s as simple as that my people. If Christ didn’t rise from the dead, then our faith is false, futile and worthless. But the important thing is that we know Christ truly rose from the dead because He was seen by many people after His resurrection, even showing the disciples, in particular, Thomas the nail prints in His hands. So please let’s discount any information to the contrary and rejoice greatly, because our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed risen today on Easter Sunday! Alleluia! Much LOVE!
…there’s nothing else worth believing…but Christ’s Resurrection…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
12 Apr 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a wise army, assurance of salvation, atonement for sins, celebrate, Christ has opened paradise, Christ is Risen today, Easter Sunday, fat fannies, fear not, fighting the good fight, forgiveness, Good Friday, hail the resurrection, Happy Easter, he that liveth, Hosanna, I am alive for evermore, I am the first and the last, Jesus won the battle, lives again our glorious king, love's redeeming work, lowers its work ethic, making disciples, Musical Mercy Tree, never let's down it's gusrd, not faithfless, pandemic situation, pie in the sky promise, recapture lost territory, redemption, reign with him, rejoice, resurrection, salvation, save us, sit on our laurels, spreading the gospel, suffer with him, Thanks be to God, the keys to hell death and the grave, through our Lord Jesus christ, to all parts of the world, victory over sin and the cross, was dead, which gives us the victory
1 Corinthians 15:57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Happy Easter
First there was Christmas – the birth of Christ, the greatest gift ever to mankind; then Good Friday – the savage torture, injustice and horrible crucifixion He endured for the payment of our sins; then today – Easter Sunday, His triumphant resurrection from the dead! Yes friends, today is possibly the most important of those three days, because without Christ’s resurrection our faith would be worthless, since eternal life would have been merely a pie in the sky promise. That’s why it’s ever so important that Jesus won the battle with Satan for the keys to hell, death and the grave and rose victorious.
Jesus told it thus to John in His Revelation: ‘Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.’ (Rev. 1:17c -18) Oh my bredrin, it couldn’t be any plainer than that! And though we have no corporate fellowship these days because of the lockdown for the Covid-19 virus, it is still such an important occasion in our faith calendar that we must do our best to celebrate it with whatever means are at our disposal.
And as always, we’ll open with a song of praise and worship, one that is ever so appropriate for this momentous occasion. It’s the old hymn by that magnificent writer, Charles Wesley, titled ‘Christ the Lord is Risen Today!’ But before we get into it, listen to this enthusiastic monologue that opens the version of the hymn from the Simple Series Musical ‘Mercy Tree’ available on Youtube. ‘We have gathered to lift up the name of Jesus. We rejoice in His victory over sin and the cross. Our cries of ‘Hosanna! Save us now!’ have been answered. Our Redeemer has conquered death! And because we are certain of that, we have reason to celebrate!’
Mama Mia! What awesome truth that is! So, without further ado, let’s celebrate, let’s rejoice in the resurrection of Christ, the redemption of our sins and the sure promise of eternal life! In a rollicking, but soulful and harmonious fashion let’s sing the praises of Christ our wonderful King! ‘Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia! Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
LOVE’S redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia! Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia! King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! Thee to know, Thy pow’r to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing, and thus to LOVE, Alleluia!’
Oh friends, what a magnificent rendition of a magnificent hymn! Wow! And as somebody wrote, every word in it truthfully refers to Christ’s work in the resurrection! And I particularly like two statements therein. The first is ‘LOVE’S redeeming work is done!’ And is it ever! The enormous price of Christ’s life has been paid for our sins for ALL TIME! Now that’s certainly nice to know! And the other statement that captivates me is: ‘Christ has opened paradise.’ And that He surely has done, by giving us the option to believe in Him and spend eternity in His amazing presence.
Now since all of us know the Resurrection Story itself, with the women coming in the early morning to check on Jesus, finding the tomb empty and two angels telling them that He is risen and gone to Galilee to meet them, and they running to tell the others, and Peter and John coming to check it out, and Mary Magdalene mistaking Jesus for the gardener until He calls her name, (smile) we won’t get into it, rather we’ll look at some other scriptures that have to do with our own resurrection and how we ought to behave.
The first thing is Bruh Paul’s advice to Timothy: ‘Thou therefore endure hardness (hardship) as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.’ (2 Tim. 2:3) Now that’s rather important if we want to set a good example to the unbelievers and create heavenly rewards. And yes, ministry is not an easy task, especially with the enemy constantly trying to spoil our testimony. We must be willing to suffer privation if we want rewards. And I like how Bruh Paul continues later on: ‘It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer (endure), we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us. If we believe not (are faithless), yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.’ (2 Tim. 2:11-13)
Yes friends, it’s all a matter of standing strong and faithful, of growing and maturing; of suffering with and for Christ, if we want to reign with him in eternity. As the scholars explain: ‘2:11-13. The principles of endurance are enumerated on the basis of the assurance of salvation.’ And there’s no better time for us to show true faith and endurance than RIGHT NOW in this scary pandemic situation!
And to bring it all together, hear these marvellous words of Bruh Paul to the Corinthians. ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave (Hades), where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Cor. 15:54a-57) Now all of that is gospel truth my people. Death and the grave were defeated. They can’t touch us anymore, because of Christ’s victorious resurrection on Easter Sunday. And we owe it all to the great LOVE that our heavenly Father had, and still has, and will always have for us.
But in the long run, the crux of the matter is our behaviour, as Bruh Paul said to Timothy above, and as follows to the church at Corinth. ‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain (futile) in the Lord.’ (1 Cor. 15:58) Oh my fellow believers, not because we achieved victory through Christ’s sacrificial death we can afford to now sit on our laurels and our fat fannies and do nothing.
Please note, that the enemy, though he was soundly defeated by Christ, has not turned tail and run home whimpering, but has revamped his army of evil minions and is still out there fighting, trying to recapture his lost territory. That means that we also need to continue working as hard as we can, keep on fighting the good fight, doing what Jesus desires of us; spreading the gospel to all parts of the earth, and thus helping to making disciples of the unbelievers. That’s what Christ’s death, resurrection, redemption and atonement of our sins requires of us. So let’s get to it this Easter Sunday as we celebrate and rejoice over His magnificent victory nuh! Much LOVE!
…though victorious in battle… a wise army…NEVER lets down it’s guard…or lowers its work ethic…
14 Apr 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a time in my life, all knees must bow, Blessed is he, Christian, cometh in the name of the Lord, dark clouds, down the right path, fellowship, hallowed, heartfelt, Hosanna, hypocrite, in the midst of the rain, keep it holy, love took control, morning star, Palm Sunday, priase, remember the Sabbath day, rescued my soul, seventh day, the name above every other, the son of David, under the cloud, worship
Exodus 20:8. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Hello there my people, it’s Sunday, the day we set aside for fellowship, praise and thanksgiving in the Lord’s sanctuary. And today is a special Sunday, one we call Palm Sunday, where we celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, like a king, with the people throwing their clothes and palm branches in the road for Him to ride on and joyfully shouting: ‘Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.’ (Matt.21:9)
Yes friends on a beautiful Sunday like today, two thousand years ago, they welcomed Jesus as a king and conquering hero, but one week later they were howling like crazy for His blood to be shed on a wooden cross! Hn! That’s the fickleness of ungrateful and unfaithful man! Anyway, we’re not going to get into the Palm Sunday routine today because everyone else is doing it, and here on the Bit we try to be a li’l different from the rest. (smile)
And as we are wont to do every Sunday, let’s open the proceedings with a song of praise and worship. Today’s ditty is called ‘In the midst of the rain,’ taken from the Bebe Winans album titled ‘In Harm’s Way.’ It’s a beautiful Christian, soulful ballad, so let’s raise our voices in song and do it justice nuh:
‘Every time I lift my eyes to the sky, I’m reminded of a time in my life, When all the dark clouds hung over me, I was lost inside, in search of a key. I remember LOVED ones being so kind, Saying things would get much better with time. And I admit sometimes they did for a while, And then I’d find myself back under the cloud.
(Chorus: Right in the midst of the rain, My heart was so full of pain. Jesus, You came and rescued my soul, And then your LOVE took control. Right in the midst of the rain, You caused me to smile again. My life was awesomely changed, Right in the midst of the rain.)
When it comes right down to just you and me, There’s nothing better now that these eyes can see. And tell me what compares to all that you are? You are everything, yes my morning star! My mind, my heart and soul I now give to you. I’m under your command so what can I do? Cause I surrender all, all that I owe, And will follow wherever you go. (Chorus)
There will never be another, Cause You’re nothing like the others. This LOVE I find in you, I found to be true! Right in the midst of the rain, My heart was so full of pain. But Jesus, You came and rescued my soul, And then your LOVE took control. Right in the midst of the rain, You caused me to smile again. My life was awesomely changed, Right in the midst of the rain.’
Oh friends isn’t that beautiful! The words are marvellous, filled with awesome truth and our sweet, powerful and harmonious voices raised to heaven did it immense justice! All heaven had a tear escaping because of our heartfelt rendition! And how could it not be heartfelt eh, with touching situations like Jesus rescuing our souls right in the midst of a terrible downpour, when we feel so lost and alone? And having done that, then His amazing LOVE simply takes control of our lives and leads us down the right path, the straight and narrow one.
All power and praise and glory be to out wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the name that’s above every other name, to whom ALL knees will eventually bow! Yes friends, He certainly deserves all the pomp and glory with which we honour Him!
However, I want to turn our attention to another important subject, one that we don’t seem to keep and revere as we ought to. I’m talking about the observance of the Sabbath. Now that’s always been important to our God, and it still is, but with man’s growing arrogance and prideful ways, the sabbath is constantly being diminished in our lives.
Hear God’s commandment to the Israelites from the early days, even putting it in the Ten Commandments: ‘Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.’ (Ex.20:8-11)
Yuh see friends, God gave us seven days in a week, but we ought to work only six and rest at least one every week, the way He did when He created the universe. I believe the Israelites took it to the extreme, taking every little thing as work, and ranting on Jesus when He healed a woman on the Sabbath. So Jesus had to smarten them up.
‘The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass (donkey) from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed (put to shame): and all the people (multitude) rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.’ (Luke 13:15-17)
Yes friends our God is not that strait-laced to expect us to do absolutely nothing on a sabbath! We just should not engage in too much stuff that not’s restful and pertaining to Him. And the scholars offer this explanation of the above verses: ‘13:15-17. Jesus makes His point well. But there remains in every generation the temptation for traditions and programs to take priority over people.’
So true that my people! No wonder Jesus had to inform the rulers of His time that ‘The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.’ (Mark 2:27) And as the scholars tell us: ‘2:27-28. Jesus’ reasoning is that divine institutions on earth are to have a God-honouring, noble, and liberating function. Sabbath laws had for some degenerated into a mockery of God’s intent.’
And so it also has in our time. But please note that if we honour the Sabbath. ‘Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places (hills) of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’ (Is.58:14) That’s God’s promise friends! Much LOVE!
…honour the sabbath…and the Lord will honour you…
25 Mar 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living
Tags: a conquering hero., a humble donkey, Be exalted, Bethany, bethpage, blessed be the kingdom, Blessed is he, bow their knees, cast their garments, Christian history, confident, cut down branches, daughter of Zion, entered Jerusalem, face another week of work, feast day, find a colt, followed, fulfilled, Galilee, glory, grateful lips, holy, Holy is the Lamb of God, honour, Hosanna, in the highest, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, joyful hearts, jubilant people, King of Kings, lift up our voices, lift up your name, LOVE, meek, moving spectacle, of our father David, oh Lord our God, Palm Sunday, praise, receive God's word, sacrifice of praise, save me, secure, sitting on an ass, sovereign God, spoken by the prophet, the Lord willing, the Mount of Olives, the name above every other, the prophet of Nazareth, thy king cometh to thee, touched our hearts, triumphal entry, walk faithfully, welcome Jesus, went before, whereon man never sat
Mark 11:9. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord:
Oh friends, it’s Sunday, Palm Sunday, that venerable feast day in our Christian history and calendar when our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem like a conquering hero, the king He was and is, riding on the back of a humble donkey, as the jubilant people spread their clothes and palm branches in the road for Him to ride on, and they kept singing, ‘Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest!’
Ah mih people, what a wonderful and moving spectacle that must have been, seeing and hearing the people give praise and honour and glory to our God and King, Jesus Christ.
Likewise, this Palm Sunday morning, the Sunday before Easter, as we gather in the chapel, the sanctuary, or wherever, let’s lift up our voices in praise and glory like they did two thousand years ago, as we welcome Jesus into our hearts and spirits and surroundings.
Let’s resurrect those shouts of Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest!’ As one awesome sounding choir now, let’s offer the sacrifice of praise through grateful lips from joyful hearts. ‘Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest, Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest Lord we lift up your name With our hearts filled with praise Be exalted OH Lord our God Hosanna in the Highest.
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lamb of God Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lamb of God Lord we lift up your name With our hearts filled with praise Be exalted OH Lord our God Holy is the Lamb of God. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is the King of Kings Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is the King of Kings Lord we lift up your name With our hearts filled with praise Be exalted OH Lord our God
Jesus is the King of Kings Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest Lord we lift up your name With our hearts filled with praise Be exalted OH Lord our God Hosanna in the Highest.’
Yeh friends, is it ever important that we lift up the name of Jesus, the name that’s above every other name, so that all people can bow their knees to Him and call him Lord and Saviour, for that’s exactly what He is. And now that we’ve offered praise and worship, our hearts and souls have been opened, ready to receive God’s word, that will bless and keep us for the next week.
And here it is, describing Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. ‘And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethpage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he (Jesus) sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against (opposite) you, and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him
And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.’ (Mark 11:1-3)
‘All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek (lowly), and sitting upon an ass (donkey), and a colt the foal of an ass.’ (Matt.21:4-5)
‘And they (the disciples) went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without (outside) in a place (on the street) where two ways met; and they loose (untied) him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye do, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way (road): and others cut down branches off the trees, and strewed them in the way (road).
And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.’ (Mark 11:4-10)
‘And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.’ (Matt.21:10-11)
And there we have it friends; the word of the Lord! And all God’s people declared a loud, grateful and confident ‘All thanks and praise be to our wonderful and sovereign God!’
Yes my fellow believers, He is indeed worthy of all the praise and glory our hearts and souls can muster! And you’ll notice that I interspersed the words of Matthew and Mark in our gospel reading so that we could get the full benefit of the information contained in both, since they each tell the story in a slightly different manner.
Now I sincerely hope that the gospel story and the praise and worship have touched our hearts and souls today, and will make us confident and secure to go out and face another week of work. Until next time then, the Lord willing, walk faithfully and carefully with the Saviour. Much LOVE!
…Hosanna…Hosanna…save me Jesus…save me…is the right cry for us all to call out…
09 Apr 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a colt, a sacred purpose, Bethany, bethpage, Christian faith, common use, company of angels, David's royal son, Galilee, honour, Hosanna, hymns of praise, Jerusalem, Jesus, joy, king of Israel, King of Kings, lowly, meek, mortal men, Mount of Olives, multitude, Palm Sunday, prayers, prediction, Redeemer, rejection, rejoicing, sacrifice of praise, sitting on an ass, splendour, spread their garments, the daughter of Zion, the foal of an ass, the king cometh, the king is coming, the lips of children, the Lord's name, the prophet of Nazareth, the Septuagint
Matthew 21:5. Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek (lowly), and sitting upon an ass (donkey), and a colt the foal of an ass.
HAPPY PALM SUNDAY!
Well friends, it’s another Sunday morning in the life; an important one too – Palm Sunday – when our Lord and Saviour Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey two thousand years ago. And oh, how the enormous crowd shouted with joy, throwing their clothes and palm branches in the dusty streets of Jerusalem for the King of Kings to ride upon!
And on this special day, we’ll open with a song of rejoicing and honour that was written in 820, especially for this occasion. So now, with much enthusiasm, joy and faithfulness, let’s offer up to heaven, a sacrifice of praise with our lips, as we declare the wonderful words of the hymn, ‘All Glory, Laud and Honour.’
‘(Refrain: All glory, laud and honor, To Thee, Redeemer, King, To Whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring.) Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son, Who in the Lord’s Name comest, The King and Blessèd One. (Refrain) The company of angels Are praising Thee on High, And mortal men and all things Created make reply. (Refrain)
The people of the Hebrews With palms before Thee went; Our prayer and praise and anthems Before Thee we present. (Refrain) To Thee, before Thy passion, They sang their hymns of praise; To Thee, now high exalted, Our melody we raise. (Refrain) Thou didst accept their praises; Accept the prayers we bring, Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King. (Refrain)’
Oh my fellow believers, how wonderful is that song of praise on this Palm Sunday morning eh! When we recall all the important and joyful stuff that went on that day it just lifts our hearts and spirits with emotions of heavenly wonder! (smile) Palm Sunday was one of the foundational stones in our Christian faith; it lifted our faith to a higher level.
And since we just praised the day in song, let’s hear what the Good Book says about it now. ‘And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethpage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he (Jesus) sendeth forth two of his disciples. And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against (opposite) you, and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose (untie) him and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.’ (Mark 11:1-4) Bethany,
Yes friends, Jesus had the whole show set up beforehand! Now there is a discrepancy between Mark and Matthew’s version, in that Matthew speaks about a colt and a mature donkey, while Mark only talks about the colt. And I’ve used Mark’s version because of some important words of Jesus found there; ‘whereon man never sat.’
And the scholars tell us those words indicated that ‘An animal devoted to a sacred purpose must not have been put to common use. (Num. 19:2, Deut. 21:3) So for it to be worthy of Jesus, it must never have been ridden before.
And the Good Book tells us why Jesus set up that scene. ‘All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek (lowly), and sitting upon an ass (donkey), and a colt the foal of an ass.’ (Matt.21:4-5)
Now the scholars inform us that our Bit ‘is a combination of Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9, taken substantially from the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament.’
And we’ll go back to Mark for the next piece of the story, as Matthew doesn’t go into it in as much detail. ‘And they (the disciples) went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without (outside) in a place where two ways met (on the street); and they loose (untied) him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.’ (Mark11:4-6)
Now back to Matthew. (smile) ‘And (they) brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him (Jesus) thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed (spread) them in the way (road).
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.’ (Matt.21:7-11)
Ah friends, I do hope I did not confuse you with moving from text to the next, but I just wanted to give us the entire story. And I know you all are smart enough to pick sense from nonsense anyway. (smile)
Now here is some more relevant info from the scholars. On the subject of Palm Sunday itself, they declare: ‘This event is traditionally known as the triumphal entry, when Jesus officially offers Himself to the nation of Israel as her long-awaited Messiah. However, in many ways, it was far from a triumph, for the day ended in Jesus’ public prediction of His rejection by His own people.
The crowd’s cry of ‘Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord,’ echoes words from 2 Sam.14:4 and Psalm 118:25-26. Riding on the colt of an ass marked the official entry of Israel’s kings. Thus Jesus arrives in the full declaration of His kingship.’
How very fitting my people! So let’s go out and celebrate and rejoice today nuh, reliving the joy, the splendour and magnitude of that august day so long ago. Much LOVE!
…the king is coming…the king is coming…
29 Mar 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abuse of power, all the people were moved, and when he was come into Jerusalem, be crucified, belief, bethpage, celebration, christianity, Christians, daughter of Zion, destruction, devastaion, faith, fears, fellowship, fickle, foibles, foolish, frail, fulfilled, gift of gab, glorified Jesus, greedy purposes, Holy Week, Hosanna, Hosanna to the son of David, humble, incensed, Jerusalem, King of Kings, led astray, Lord of Lords, lowly, Messiah, might and majesty, misuse, multitude, Old Testament, Palm Sunday, peace, power of the mouth, preview of things to come, prophecy, rejection, rejoice, riding upon an ass, righteous and godly rulers, salvation, Septuagint, snow white charger, surrendering to Jesus, the foal of an ass, the Mount of Olives, the only way, thy king cometh, ticket to eternal life, tomorrow might be too late, triumphal entry of jesus, wealth, who is this, world supremacy, worship, Zechariah, zenith of wisdom
Matthew 21:10. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
PALM SUNDAY!
Well Friends, today is Palm Sunday, the first day of one of the most important weeks in Christianity – Holy Week. It’s the day that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ made His triumphal entry into the holy city of Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. And thus it is a very important day for Christians to go to church to worship Christ and fellowship with each other.
It’s a preview of things to come. The first time, He humbly enters Jerusalem on a lowly donkey, but the next time…the next time… Oh my people, Jesus will be coming in might and majesty, as Lord of Lords and King of Kings, sitting astride a snow white charger, that’s snorting and impatiently stamping its feet, anxious to join the fray, the impending battle for world supremacy.
Ah mih breddren, this day also shows how frail and fickle and foolish humans can be, and are so easily led astray by those with the power of the mouth; the gift of the gab. Why do I say that? Because on that first Palm Sunday, the populace of Jerusalem worshipped and glorified Jesus, but a week later they were crying out to crucify Him, all because their leaders incensed them to do so, for the leader’s private purposes.
Sadly Friends, the same thing is happening in our world today; a large amount of people are being led astray on numerous fronts by their leaders, not for the benefit of the people, but for the selfish and greedy purposes of those in power. Is this misuse and abuse of power ever going to end?
Who knows? But it will only end when we raise up righteous and godly rulers and hold them to account, instead of the parasites who now feed greedily on the fears, foibles and wealth of the people, and rob and steal with impunity.
But that’s a sermon for another day. (smile) Today we’re featuring Palm Sunday, so let’s focus on that. And please note Friends, that his day was prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus’ time by the prophet Zechariah, when he proclaimed to Israel: ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just (righteous), and having salvation; lowly (humble), and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.’ (Zech.9:9)
And the scholars offer this information. ‘9:9-10. The ass (donkey) was an animal of peace. The kings of the earth come to bring destruction and devastation; Israel’s King comes to bring peace. The prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt.21:4-7; Mark 11:7; Luke 19:38; John 12:14-15).’
Yes Friends, centuries later, Jesus appeared on the scene, and on this fateful day, set His sights on Jerusalem. So let’s see what happened nuh. The gospel of Matthew tells it thus: ‘And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethpage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, go into the village over against (opposite) you, and straightway ye shall find an ass (donkey) tied, and a colt with her: loose (untie) them, and bring them unto me.
And if any man say aught (anything) unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek (humble), and sitting upon an ass (donkey), and a colt, the foal of an ass.
And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. And brought the ass (donkey), and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from trees, and strewed (spread) them in the way (road).
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, this is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.’ (Matt.21:1-11)
Ah Friends, what a carnival-like day, an atmosphere of celebration that must have been eh, with everybody rejoicing to see their prophet, their Messiah being kingly paraded through their streets. But as we said earlier, the euphoria didn’t last very long, for some five days later they were crying out for His head, for Him to be crucified.
Now here is some info from the scholars, re those verses. ’21:1-9. This event is traditionally known as the triumphal entry, when Jesus officially offers Himself to the nation of Israel as her long-awaited Messiah. However, in many ways it was far from a triumph, for the day ended in Jesus’ public prediction of His rejection by His own people. (See Mark 1:1-10; Luke 19:29-39; John 12:12-15).
Bethpage was a village near Bethany, about a mile east of Jerusalem and apparently hidden from it by the summit of the Mount of Olives, which was the hill on the east of Jerusalem. The quotation in verse 5 is a combination of Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9, taken substantially from the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament.
Hosanna is the transliteration of a Hebrew term meaning “please save,” and occurs in 2 Samuel 14:4 and Psalm 118:25. From the following verse of this psalm the acclamation Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord is taken. Riding on the colt of an ass marked the official entry of Israel’s kings. Thus Jesus arrives in the full declaration of His kingship.’
There we have it my brethren; lots of info on the Palm Sunday scene, so please let’s ponder and study it and thus increase our knowledge of Jesus and His Word, and consequently also increase our faith and belief in Him, for He is truly the ONLY WAY through which salvation can be had.
So let’s be wise and embrace Him and all that He stands for RIGHT NOW, for tomorrow might just be too late. Much LOVE!
…the zenith of wisdom is… surrendering one’s self to Jesus Christ…accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour…your ticket to eternal life…
01 Apr 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: Bible, blessed, cohesive work, Hosanna, Jerusalem, kings of the earth, Palm Sunday, prince of peace, psalm 118, Son of David, steadfast, symbol of peace, triumphal entry of jesus, triumphant, true
Matthew 21:9. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
PALM SUNDAY!
All hail the triumphal entry of Jesus into His city of Jerusalem! Oh Friends, it was a bright and sunny day like today, two thousand years ago, when Jesus triumphantly entered the sacred city of Jerusalem on a lowly donkey, using people’s clothing as a saddle, riding over palms and clothes on the cobbled stone streets, while the crowds enthusiastically greeted Him. The next time though my brethren, it will be an entirely different story! That time He came humbly, on the next occasion though, Jesus will enter Jerusalem with much pomp, power and glory, as a conquering hero, having already crushed His enemies underfoot. And to show how the Good Book is a cohesive work of God from beginning to end, and not simply man’s imagination, the shouts of our Bit: ‘Hosanna to the (Save, we pray, thou) Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest,’ echo the words of Psalm 118: 24-25. ‘Save now (Hosanna) I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.’ The triumphant entry of Jesus also recalls and fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah: ‘Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just (righteous), and having salvation; lowly (humble), and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.’ (Zech.9:9) The donkey was a symbol of peace, which was what Jesus, Israel’s King came to bring, so He wasn’t coming on any snorting, prancing charger which the kings of the earth rode when they came to wreak havoc and destruction. Thus the rabbi’s of Zechariah’s time and thereafter could not understand how their Messiah, their victorious warrior-king, could ride up triumphantly on such a meek and lowly animal. But their vision was grossly distorted, for instead of the Messiah being a warmonger, as they envisioned Him, He came then as an angel of Peace. Now that doesn’t mean He isn’t also a most formidable general, in fact the best ever, but back then that was His Father’s plan, so that the many prophecies about Him could be fulfilled. Note too Jesus’ words when He sent the two disciples to get the donkey: ‘Go your way into the village over against you (opposite), and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? Say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.’ (Mark 11:2-3) And it happened just as Jesus predicted. They found the colt and untied it, but were accosted about their intentions. However when they said that Jesus needed it, there were no further problems. An important point here are the words; ‘whereon never man sat’ Per the scholars, ‘An animal devoted to a sacred purpose must not have been put to common use.’ (Num.19:2, Deut.21:3) Those scriptures talk about the unblemished animals that were to be used as sacrifices; similarly, this donkey could not have been ridden by anyone else before Jesus. Ah Friends, that first Palm Sunday was such a great occasion, with the great outpouring of peace and LOVE that the celebration engendered. But such was the fickle and selfish nature of mankind back then, that after welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem with such joy on Palm Sunday, five days later, on Good Friday, many of those same ones were crying out for Him to be crucified. And unfortunately, we are still as fickle and selfish – no, even more so than two thousand years ago. One day we climb on one bandwagon, say Jesus’, then when it no longer suits our selfish needs, we jump on another one, most likely Beelzebub’s. But my people, our lives will never improve if we retain that finicky, fickle, jump from one side to the other. Only when we stay constant and steadfast on one track, preferably Jesus’ will improvement ever be possible. There’s much truth in the saying that when we don’t stand strong for something, we’ll fall easily for anything. That’s exactly what happened to those people back then: they didn’t stand true and steadfast for Jesus; He was merely treated as the flavour of the day. And so, because of their wishy-washy attitude, they eventually lost out on salvation and eternal life. Please my brethren, let’s not be like them nuh. We’re much luckier, and I surely hope smarter, having the good news of the gospel and two thousand years of history to draw from. Sadly though, too many of us are still drawing the wrong conclusions. If we consider ourselves believers in Jesus, then let’s be willing to stand up proudly and be counted, come what may. Let’s stop jumping from pillar to post whenever we think the grass looks greener on the other side, because invariably it’s not, which only leads to more disappointment. Oh my people, Jesus was the only man who walked this earth claiming Godly status, and actually proved it by His extraordinary actions. Therefore we know that His word is true, that He’s faithful and trustworthy, so let’s be wise and stand strong in His Name nuh! This Palm Sunday let’s imagine ourselves back there on the streets of ole Jerusalem, waving palms, throwing clothes, crying out Hosanna’s to the Son of David, our hearts bursting with LOVE and joy as the Prince of Peace triumphantly enters on His lowly steed, fulfilling the Bible prophecies. It’s the only sensible response for a believer. Much LOVE!…true believers stay true…even in the most difficult of times…
SCRIP-BITS 