Your King Is Coming

Today is Palm Sunday. On this day, we remember and celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem before His arrest and crucifixion. All three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) report that Jesus entered Jerusalem during His final week, riding on a donkey, while the crowds welcomed Him by declaring and echoing the words of Psalm 118, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” The crowds welcomed Jesus, the King, the Son of David, shouting “Hosanna.” “Hosanna” is a Hebrew phrase that means “help” or “save.” This phrase is used in Psalm 118:25, “Save us, we pray, O Lord!” This phrase had become a liturgical refrain when Jesus ministered in Judea. The crowds recognized Jesus as the King, the Son David, and knew He had the power to help and save them. They greet Him by acknowledging His reign and crying out for His help. The crowd’s response should be our response to the Gospel of Jesus. Our salvation starts when we recognize the sovereign nature of God and His reign. We are saved when we acknowledge Him as King and ask for His salvation. The Gospel of Mark (1:15) recorded the first sermon of Jesus, a short sermon of one sentence when He proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” This Palm Sunday, at the start of Holy Week, let us lift our eyes and acknowledge that the time is now! Recognize the Son of David – Jesus, the King has come to us. He has entered our world! In His reign, the Kingdom of God has come near to us! Let us repent of our sins and believe that He and His Gospel are the good news from God. Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to Him who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna to Jesus, the Son of David! Help us, Lord! Save us, King of Kings! We welcome You! Come and reign, King Jesus!

Prayer

King Jesus, forgive us as we have lived as if You do not exist. Therefore, our hearts are hard, our eyes dry, and our lives filled with despair. Open our eyes so that we might recognize You as our King. You are the King of Kings and the only Lord of Lords. Help us! We cannot help ourselves. Save us! We can not save ourselves. The time is now, come and reign, King Jesus. Blessed are You. Hosanna in the highest! Help and save us! Come, King Jesus! Rule and reign in our lives and in our world. Hosanna!

Corné J. Bekker, D. Litt. et Phil., serves as dean and professor for the Regent University School of Divinity.