The Ringing Endorsement of Jesus on Palm Sunday!

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.

So we’re finally getting there my faithful believers; just one more week to the biggest and most important day in the annals of our faith, that’s Easter Sunday, when our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ rose triumphantly from dead, having defeated Satan, hell, death and the grave, thus bringing the long ago promises of salvation and eternal life to fruition. And all of God’s people gave a loud and grateful shout of ‘Thank You Jesus!’ 

But friends, we still have a li’l ways to go until that glorious day, although we do have another marvellous situation that involves Christ, we call it Palm Sunday! The day when Jesus sent His disciples to get a donkey and its foal in a nearby village and then rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on the donkey like a conquering King. The Bible tells us: ‘All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek (lowly) and sitting upon an ass (donkey), and the colt the foal of an ass.  (Zech. 9:9) 

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 (Jesus) thereon. 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. 21:4-11) 

But before we move on, here’s an interesting note from the scholars. They say that ‘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.’ He was finally making a ringing endorsement of Himself, after previously playing down His kingship. But like so many things in this crazy and ungodly world, five days later, that joyful celebration and all the cries of ‘Hosanna’ had died, and that same crowd was now crying, ‘Crucify Him!’ 

Yes friends, that’s the basic nature of the human animal; you can’t put too much trust in them, for they will turn against you in an instant, conveniently and completely forgetting the joy you recently brought to their souls and spirits. That’s why the Bible keeps telling us not put our trust in man who is unreliable, but in God, who is wholly reliable. And this commentary explains it thus: ‘The idea that it’s wrong to trust in man is a recurring theme in religious texts, particularly in Christianity, where it emphasizes placing trust in God rather than human beings. 

The biblical text from Jeremiah 17:5 states that “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD”. This message suggests that relying on humans for strength or security is a flawed approach, as humans are ultimately fallible and cannot provide lasting comfort or protection. Instead, it encourages a reliance on a higher power, emphasizing faith over human reliance.’ And that’s the indisputable truth. 

Anyway, enough on all this other stuff, let’s get to today’s song of worship, aptly titled, ‘Hosanna in the Highest!’ One commentary tells us ‘“Hosanna in the highest” is used when we acknowledge Jesus for His ultimate sacrifice and what it means for us and mankind as a whole. This may not be something we often say out loud, but we can think it in our minds and feel it in our hearts in times of worship.’ So, let’s do that right now nuh, as we raise our sacrifices of praise to high heaven, in an up-tempo, scintillating version of the song. 

Singing: ‘Hosanna [2] Hosanna In The Highest [2] Lord We Lift Up Your Name With Our Hearts Filled With Praise Be Exalted Oh Lord Our God Hosanna In The Highest.  Holy [3] Is The Lamb Of God [2] 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 [3] Is The King Of Kings [2] 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 [2] Hosanna In The Highest [2] Lord We Lift Up Your Name With Our Hearts Filled With Praise Be Exalted Oh Lord Our God Hosanna In The Highest. (2) Be exalted Oh Lord our God Hosanna in the Highest….’ 

Oh my fellow believers, let’s hope that we sung that song from our heart, with true thanksgiving and much praise, for Jesus indeed deserves to be exalted! As Bruh Paul so rightly declares (chuhhh!!!) to the Philippians: ‘And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Wherefore God also hath exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in the earth, and (those) things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’  (Phil. 2:8-11) 

Then in the Book of Revelation, John writes thus of Jesus: ‘These shall make war with the Lamb (Jesus), and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.’ (Rev; 17:14)

Yes my people, “Lord of lords and King of kings” is a title used in the Bible to describe Jesus, affirming his supreme sovereignty and authority over all earthly and heavenly rulers. The idea of Jesus being King of kings and Lord of lords means that there is no higher authority. His reign over all things is absolute and inviolable. And that’s the gospel truth! There is no higher authority than Jesus! And it’s high time that we sincerely believe it and begin to live our lives in a manner becoming His called, His chosen and faithful! Much LOVE!

…if we are indeed the called and chosen…we are doing a terrible job of showing it to the world… for we are definitely not faithful enough…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   24 March 2024 Matthew 21:9.

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…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   2 April 2023 Matthew 21:6.

Matthew21:6. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them.

And then it was Sunday once again! But this time it’s a special one; Psalm Sunday! The day when our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ made His triumphal kingly entry on a colt of a donkey into Jerusalem, the city of His father David. Wow! What a day that was! And what a day it still is, because ‘For Christians, it is a reminder of the welcoming of Jesus into our hearts and of our willingness to follow him.’ 

Another commentary says: ‘Palm Sunday carries Christ towards the ultimate sacrifice of his life on the cross, where, by his sacrifice we are healed! Its central message is that God sees us and LOVES what he sees. The only requirement from us is that we welcome him and his peace, and exercise faith in his ultimate healing — on earth or in heaven.’ 

And let’s begin doing that with some appropriate praise and worship for this momentous day in our Christian calendar, by singing the hymn, ‘Hosanna in the Highest!’ In a rousing, rollicking version, let’s offer up our sacrificial praises to heaven with joyful hearts. Singing: ‘Hosanna [2] Hosanna In The Highest [2] Lord We Lift Up Your Name With Our Hearts Filled With Praise Be Exalted Oh Lord Our God Hosanna In The Highest.  Holy [3] Is The Lamb Of God [2] 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 [3] Is The King Of Kings [2] 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 [2] Hosanna In The Highest [2] Lord We Lift Up Your Name With Our Hearts Filled With Praise Be Exalted Oh Lord Our God Hosanna In The Highest. (2) Be exalted Oh Lord our God Hosanna in the Highest….’  

Oh my fellow believers, how wonderful it is to be able to remember that joyful day in ole Jerusalem with the multitudes who had come to celebrate the Jewish Passover feast. And we all know the story as told by the disciple Matthew, which we never get tired of hearing and repeating. ‘And when they (Jesus and the disciples) 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 ought (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 Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek (lowly), and sitting upon an ass (donkey), and a colt the foal of an ass.’ (Matt. 21:1-5) 

Yes friends, as the Good Library keeps on showing us, Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament Scriptures. And the prophet who made that announcement was none other than Zechariah, as he promised Israel that their king would indeed come to them one day. (Zech. 9:9) And on the day we call Palm Sunday, Jesus fulfilled that scripture like he did so many others during His short time here on earth. 

But getting on with the story, Matthew continues: ‘And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them. And brought the ass, 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 (road), 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. 21:6-11) 

Now that was indeed a marvellous day as Jesus entered the city where He eventually intends to set up His kingdom, like the king He is. And as the scholars tell us: ‘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.’ And it was interesting how the crowds shouted out ‘Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest,’ because I don’t think most of them really knew Him, but followed the chants of those who did, like we do so often when we get caught up in the exuberance of a crowd. 

And what does the word ‘Hosanna’ mean eh? In the old interpretation as found in Psalm 118:25, it basically meant, ‘save, now.’ That’s how the psalmist used it: ‘Save, now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.’ But when used as the crowd did: ‘Hosanna to the son of David, and Hosanna in the highest,’ ‘In that context, the word Hosanna seems to be a “special kind of respect” given to the one who saves, saved, will save or is saving now. If so Hosanna means “a special honor to the one who saves” And obviously that is cause for discussion amongst the scholars. (smile) 

But we don’t need to dilly dally over the meaning, since we know what it means to us. Jesus is our Saviour! Short and to the point. And that segues very nicely into this commentary. “Hosanna in the highest” is used when we acknowledge Jesus for His ultimate sacrifice and what it means for us and mankind as a whole. This may not be something we often say out loud, but we can think it in our minds and feel it in our hearts in times of worship.’ 

Yuh better believe it, we ought to be continually acknowledging Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, in our hearts, souls, bodies and minds! We need to remember it as the foundation of our faith, so that it can help us handle the rough times when they come along, as they most certainly will. 

And we’ll end today with a most appropriate prayer for Palm Sunday. Please pray with me: ‘Merciful God, as we enter Holy week, turn our hearts again to Jerusalem, and to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Stir up within us the gift of faith that we may not only praise him with our lips, but may follow him in the way of the cross.’ And all of God’s people gave a loud and grateful shout of ‘Amen!’ 

Yes my fellow saints, this Holy Week is indeed a time to stir up our faith, so that we can confidently face the evil world in which we currently dwell, in the great and mighty name of Jesus! Much LOVE!

…only Jesus…only Jesus as God and man…could do what He did…and is still doing…give Him thanks and praise…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   10 April 2022 Revelation 19:16.

Revelation 19:16.      And he hath on his vesture (robe) and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Another Sunday has rolled around my people! And this is a very blessed and special Sunday in the Christian calendar. We call it Palm Sunday, recalling Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem two thousand years ago, the week before He was crucified, riding on a donkey, like the kings who brought peace, the fateful day when He officially offered Himself to the nation of Israel as her long awaited Messiah! 

Wow! It was a marvellous day with the many visitors to Jerusalem thronging the streets to see Jesus, spreading their clothing and tree branches in His way, greeting Him like a conquering hero. The Good Book describes it thus: ‘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. 21:9-11) 

Yes, it was a great day friends, but yuh know what, Palm Sunday also foreshadows Jesus’ return to earth to set up His millennial kingdom in Jerusalem. So, it’s both a triumphant day of the past and one that will again erupt with joy when Christ returns to rule the world. But enough talk, as we’re all looking forward to singing a wonderful song in Christ’s honour this Palm Sunday morning. And it’s indeed a popular hymn, so popular that it’s often called ‘The National Anthem of Christendom,’ and is aptly titled ‘All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.’  

‘The lyrics were written by Edward Perronet (1721-1792) a prominent British Pastor at one time affiliated with the Wesley’s of the Methodist persuasion, but afterwards became a pastor of a dissenting congregation.’ Another sad instance of church disunity, that just keeps on increasing the enemy’s power and lessening its own. Anyway, we know all about that and are working diligently to correct it, and the best way to do that right now is to lift up our voices in sweet sacrifices of praise, letting heaven an all earth know how much we LOVE and adore our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

So, in a soulful, scintillating, mid-tempo, joyful version, let’s sing: ‘All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall; Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him, crown him, crown him, And crown him Lord of all. Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, Ye ransomed of the fall, Ye ransomed of the fall, Hail him who saves you by his grace, And crown him, crown him, crown him, And crown him Lord of all. 

Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe, On this terrestrial ball, On this terrestrial ball, To him all majesty ascribe, And crown him, crown him, crown him, And crown him Lord of all. O that with yonder sacred throng We at his feet may fall; We at His feet may fall; We’ll join the everlasting song, And crown him, crown him, crown him, And crown him Lord of all.’ 

Oh, certainly my fellow saints, Jesus must be crowned Lord of ALL, because He is indeed Lord of ALL! That’s what the Good Book says, and the Good Book doesn’t lie. Listen to how Bruh Paul explained it when he wrote to the church at Philippi. ‘And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every other name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and (those) things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Phil. 2:8-11) 

Mamma Mia! What power resides in our Jesus! For His undaunted obedience, the Father made His name the highest name therein all the earth and heaven, to whom all knees must bow and confess that He is Lord. Jesus Himself said it to the disciples before He gave them the Great Commission: ‘All power (authority) is given unto me: in heaven and in earth.’ (Matt. 28:18) Even the heathen king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, recognized the might and power of Almighty God, after Daniel revealed the secret of his dream. He said to Daniel: ‘Of a truth, it is that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.’ (Dan. 2:47) 

Meanwhile in 1 Timothy, Bruh Paul tells the young preacher: ‘That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable (blameless), until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall show (manifest) who is the blessed and only Potentate (Sovereign Ruler), the King of kings, and Lord of lords.’ (1 Tim. 6:14-15) And if you still don’t believe, then let’s go right to the end of the story and get all the facts straight! (smile)

Right at the opening of John’s vision recorded in Revelation, Jesus said to him: ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, and which was to come, the Almighty.’ (Rev. 1:8) That set the scene for John’s later recounting of the rider on the white horse; ‘And he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself…

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture (robe) and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’ (Rev. 19:11-12, 15-16) 

Yes, all you beautiful saints of Christ, those mighty words describe our Lord and Saviour when He shall come in all His glory to rule the earth! As the scholars tell us: ‘He is the revelation of God Himself. In His first advent (coming) Jesus especially revealed the LOVE and grace of God. But in His second advent, He will reveal the holiness, justice and judgement of God. Christ will smite the nations, that is destroy all unbelievers, and will subject all nations to Himself, and destroy all His enemies. He has universal sovereignty. The many crowns mean He is King over all who call themselves kings, and Lord over all who call themselves lords.’ Glory Hallelujah my faithful brethren! 

That’s how the story plays out; with Jesus the conquering Hero spreading God’s wrath far and wide, cleaning up the earth in anticipation of a time with strictly peace and LOVE, no more tears, nor death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things (the negative things of the previous world) are passed away. (Rev. 21:4) And that’s how it’s going to be people. Now let’s hope that we will all be amongst that marvellous crowd on that thrilling day. Much LOVE!

…will you be in the new heaven and earth…only if you sincerely believe in Christ Jesus…it’s glorious ruler… 

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 April 2021 John 3:16.

John 3:16.     ​For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

So friends, we have at last come to that sorrowful day of mourning in the lives of Christ’s followers! A day that we contrarily call Good Friday. But the truth is, that day, two thousand years ago, was one in which a most horrific crime was committed, the inhumane abuse and eventual crucifixion of Jesus Christ on an old, rugged cross on the hill of Calvary on the outskirts of Jerusalem. And the unbelievable thing is that this took place, less than a week after they had welcomed Him in such a wonderful manner on Palm Sunday, hailing Him as their Saviour, their Immanuel, with Hosannas to the Son of David! 

And it’s not so much the crucifixion itself that was most hurtful, but the shameful manner in which the dastardly act was perpetrated. As the song, ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ puts it, that Cross was and still is ‘the emblem of suffering and shame.’ But the most important point of that day is the purpose behind Christ’s crucifixion, why He allowed Himself to be so abused and demeaned. Hear His fateful words on the subject as He talks about there being one fold and one shepherd in His kingdom. 

‘Therefore doth my Father LOVE me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it up again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.’ (John 10:17-18) Yes friends, as Jesus said, they didn’t take His life from Him, He gave it to them, willingly, so that a world of lost sinners could be saved, so that our horrible sins could be forgiven by a just and righteous God the Father, otherwise we would be heading directly to eternal damnation! 

But Christ’s sacrifice on that old, rugged cross gave us another option, a most wonderful one, that of reconciliation with our Creator! And all God’s children declared a loud and grateful: ‘All praise to Jesus and His atoning death on our behalf!’ And what’s so great about Jesus’ sacrifice, is that the Father didn’t force Him to do it, but He did it willingly, because of His LOVE for the Father, and knowing the Father’s great LOVE for us! And that’s why we call it Good Friday, because the good of salvation, of atonement, of sin debt relief in full was embedded in, and born of that fateful act! 

Oh, glory be mih people! What a mighty and unselfish act! And that’s why we cherish that old, rugged cross, though it’s the ‘emblem of suffering and shame,’ the manifestation of an act that could only be described as ‘sufferation!’ And yuh know what friends? We ‘LOVE that old cross with the dearest and best, for a world of lost sinners were saved.’ And we’ll keep cherishing that old, rugged cross ‘till my trophies at last I lay down. I will cling to the old, rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.’ 

Oh my fellow saints, what a wonderful Saviour Christ is! Who else would have spilled His divine blood on a rugged, man-made cross for a bunch of ungrateful sinners eh? NOBODY! In fact, nobody else possessed the ability to pay for the sins of a lost and fallen world, just the sinless Son of God. And God LOVED us so much, despite the bunch of disobedient ingrates we had become, that He broke His own heart and sent His Son to earth to sacrifice His life on our behalf, so that we could have an opportunity to be reconciled to Him. Now if that isn’t real, true LOVE,I don’t what is nuh. 

As Jesus so graciously puts it. ‘For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16) Yes precious people, all we need to do is believe in Christ, and we become saved, sanctified, justified, forgiven, indwelt by His Holy Spirit, with our name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that means eternal life with Christ! Now what could ever be better than that eh? Absolutely NOTHING! 

So those of us who simply refuse to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour are just fooling ourselves, laying down a most unwelcome path to eternal damnation with that ole fool Satan, when we could have a most excellent journey through eternity with Christ. But as the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. And that’s the same way with us hard-headed, stubborn sinners, who believe in the now pleasures of sin, and don’t think of the serious then consequences of our ungodly behaviour. 

Oh yes, there are always consequences to sin, because our righteous and just God can’t stand sin, can’t stand disobedience, and the pleasures of sin only last for a fleeting moment, while the consequences can last a lifetime, even an eternity. So my people, there’s no better day to embrace Christ and all that He stands for, than on this Good Friday, when He selflessly gave His life, His all for us, so that we could be filled with new and eternal life. 

And do we ever need His saving grace in this time of pandemic and strife that’s engulfing our entire world. So please, let’s go to Him in prayer nuh, the medium that He’s set out to communicate with us. So as one strong, sincere, but humble voice, let’s offer up our Friday Chant. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help. 

Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks. 

And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’ 

Now let’s go out and show the Lord that we are indeed faithful believers nuh, by handling the situation in a godly manner! Much LOVE!

…weeping may endure for a night…but joy comes in the morning…Easter Sunday soon come…

P.S. I didn’t forget the ordinary workingman’s spiel, but he was so angry today because the province wide lockdown that starts tomorrow, has cancelled his long awaited return to work, and he bluntly refused to talk to us. Them’s the breaks! (smile) Much LOVE!

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8              

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 March 2021 Matthew 21:11.

Matthew 21:11.     ​And the multitude said, This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Oh friends, it’s Palm Sunday! That awesome day two thousand years ago, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, triumphant on a donkey, like the King He was, and still is, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the prophet Zechariah to the people of 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) 

Yes my people, the kings of the earth usually came to bring devastation and destruction, but our King came to bring peace. Now that doesn’t mean He’s a soft-touch, or a lightweight, because that was just the foreshadowing of His coming in glory with all the host of His saints and angels, riding upon a white charger, with a sharp sword coming out of his mouth, with which He would smite the nations, trod them down like a winepress with the fury of God’s wrath and rule them with an iron fist for a thousand years. (Rev. 19:15) 

So please don’t think that Christ’s final coming will be a sing-along. The first time He came in humility and sacrifice, the next time it will be with glory and power. He created the world with His Word, (Heb. 11:3), He’ll most likely also destroy it with His Word, that would then become that two-edged sword, quick (alive) and powerful, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow…’ (Heb. 4:11) 

Ah mih bredrin, let’s remember that our majestic Lord and Saviour is anything but a pushover, and the many who think that they can get away with evil and sin, will find out, too late though, that they won’t. Let’s hope that we are not amongst that unfortunate lot. And it seems like the ole fella has gotten ahead of Himself. But that’s what the excitement of Jesus does to you! (smile) So getting back to the matter in hand, Palm Sunday, let’s sing praises and honour to our wonderful Jesus. 

And today’s hymn is a most appropriate one, titled ‘Hosanna in the Highest.’ It’s exactly what the crowds were chanting that first Palm Sunday. So altogether now, in sweet, sincere harmony, in an up-tempo version, let’s raise our song to high heaven. ‘Hosanna, Hosanna; Hosanna In The Highest, 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. Lord We Lift Up Your Name With Our Hearts Filled With Praise Be Exalted Oh Lord Our God Hosanna In The Highest. Be exalted Oh Lord our God Hosanna in the Highest…. Hosanna in the Highest…’ 

Yes my fellow believers, most appropriate praise and honour to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Now, I don’t remember where I got all of this upcoming information, but I believe it is the truth. (smile) ‘The phrase hosanna in the highest appears only twice in the Bible, once in Matthew and again in Mark, during the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The word hosanna comes from a Hebrew word meaning “save now” or “save us, we pray.”  In the Hebrew Bible it is used only in verses such as “help” or “save, I pray” (Ps. 118:25). 

It is applied in numerous verses of the New Testament including “Hosanna; blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” (Mark 11:8), “hosanna in the highest” (Mark 11:10); “hosanna to the Son of David” (Matt. 21:9). In that context, the word Hosanna seems to be a “special kind of respect” given to the one who saves, saved, will save or is saving now. If so Hosanna means “a special honor to the one who saves”. The old interpretation “Save, now!”, based on Psalm 118:25, does not fully explain the occurrence of the word in the Gospels as a shout of jubilation, and this has given rise to complex discussions.’ 

And yuh better believe that there will be complex discussions on the Word of God, right up to the day Jesus returns! So what was all the hurrah about that first Palm Sunday eh? Let’s hear what the Good Book has to say nuh. After Jesus told two of His disciples to go to a nearby village and bring and ass and its colt they would find there, (Matt. 21:2-3) the disciples did as He commanded. 

‘And (they) 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 the trees, and strewed (spread) them in the way (road). And the multitude 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. 21:6-11) 

How moving a picture and story my people! The Jewish people thought that their Messiah had eventually come, and He did come, but not to take them from under the stranglehold of the occupying Roman army, as they had been led to believe. That’s why on the following Friday, a different spectacle took place. It wasn’t a joyous one, because everybody was then screaming for Jesus’ head: ‘Crucify Him, Crucify Him’ the masses cried. The same ones who a few days before were singing His praises. But that’s the nature of mankind. 

And we do have to forgive them because they didn’t know better, didn’t have all the facts at their fingertips like we do today. And most likely, in their place, we would have behaved the same way, so onerous was the Roman rule. In any case, let’s celebrate today, Christ’s triumphant entry into His capital city. Next week, will be time enough for sadness. (smile) 

And we’ll close with this very interesting footnote. “Hosanna in the highest” is used when we acknowledge Jesus for His ultimate sacrifice and what it means for us and mankind as a whole. This may not be something we often say out loud, but we can think it in our minds and feel it in our hearts in times of worship.” What awesome words of wisdom my brethren! So let’s do just that today nuh. Much LOVE!

…we can’t think or talk about Jesus…without LOVE and worship…in our hearts, minds, bodies and souls… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8          

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 March 2015 Matthew 21:10

 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…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 April 2014 Matthew 21:9b

Matthew 21:9b.    Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

The trumpet sounds: Spah na na na na na! The gates open – and the triumphal entry begins: in rides our wonderful Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ on a magnificent charger, just a prancing and dancing down the paved streets of gold, lined with palms and cedars of Lebanon!
 
Our conquering hero is dressed in splendid robes befitting His exalted position. A crown of gold and precious jewels sits perfectly on his head, while the scabbard containing His mighty sword dangles from His waist. It’s a picture of pure magnificence, of pure kingship!
 
A radiant smile spreads across His handsome face as the highly exuberant crowds cry out: ‘All hail the King of Glory! Jesus Christ, the Son of God; before whom all knees must bow and all tongues confess that He is Lord indeed!’
 
And at that unforgettable greeting, our glorious Redeemer raises His right hand and waves it in a beatific greeting.
 
The angels have a hard time keeping the crowds at bay, while Jesus and His legions march down the main street of Jerusalem, victorious over the foolish and fallen ingrate Lucifer – forever! 
 
Oh forgive me Friends, in my overwhelming exuberance, I jumped ahead to the Second Coming of our Saviour, arrayed in full splendour and glory as the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I’m so excited, looking forward to that day so much, that I let my emotions run away on me. (smile) But it sure is a marvellous picture though my brethren, and one we can definitely look forward to sometime in the not too distant future.
 
Today though, we’re celebrating His first triumphal entrance into Jerusalem some two thousand years ago, not yet as a conquering hero, but as a lowly and humble preacher on the verge of miraculous doings, to fulfill that ‘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.
 
And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them. And brought the ass, 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 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. 21:4-11)
 
Yes my brethren, that is how it was on Jesus’ first heralded entrance to Jerusalem, a rather low key affair in comparison to what His Second entrance will be. But it served its purpose, spread His name around some more, got people talking, wondering, filling them with expectant faith and hungry hope, just the way we are today; eagerly looking forward to the next time.
 
That’s because the next time there will be no reversal of fortunes, there will be no fickle and fearful people to change their minds about Jesus and sit idly by or enjoy His demeaning treatment and eventual crucifixion at the hands of the cruel Roman soldiers, so assiduously engineered by the greedy and politically corrupt Jewish elite. But that first Palm Sunday though was Jesus’ day, when the people really seemed to rally around Him.
 
However, listen to a couple of interesting points raised by the scholars. ’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 11:1-10; 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 full declaration of His kingship.’
 
And all God’s people gave a rousing and joyful shout of ‘Praise the Lord, our King cometh!’
 
Yes my fellow believers, today is one of the many red letter days in the celebration of our great faith, so please let’s give it the true attention it deserves, by going to the Lord’s House and celebrating it with others of the same ilk. 
 
And we’ll end with an interesting word from Jesus as He denounces the hypocrite scribes and Pharisees. ‘For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.’ (Matt.23:39)
 
Yes Friends, we can all look forward with great pleasure to that awesome day! Meanwhile, enjoy today’s blessings with plenty praise and thanksgiving! Much LOVE!
 
…oh to be wrapped up in the warm and LOVING arms of Jesus…nothing to it compares…