March 30th, 2023
by Tom Cabaniss
by Tom Cabaniss
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ final and triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Matthew, Mark and Luke record this moment in Jesus’ life. The Lord is welcomed with affection, acclaim and adoration. We can almost see and hear the excitement that echoed and reigned in Jerusalem on that long ago day. The praises surrounded and serenaded Jesus as He entered the city just days before His looming arrest and crucifixion. This entry marks the beginning of Holy Week. Luke 19:36 notes this detail about Jesus’ entry, “As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.” Luke’s choice of the verb “spread” suggests a continuous casting of clothing to the ground before Jesus. Repeatedly, in an ongoing fashion, the people put their cloaks before Jesus—almost like forming a road or pathway for Him to follow. The “spreading” was not a singular or solitary act—rather it was a repeated, uninterrupted and unimpeded casting down of garments. We could likely characterize it as a spontaneous act that grew more and more intense as the procession moved along.
If we think on this action for a few moments, we begin to wonder what we might cast or spread before the Lord today. We think about what we might offer to Him in worship, praise or surrender. Many people in the crowd that lined the street of Jesus’ entry probably had little more than their cloaks. It was likely not a gathering of the rich or well-to-do. But the people gave what they had. They surrendered the one thing they possessed so Jesus could be properly honored, welcomed and adored. The principle is for us to trust God with what we have. We are to offer to Him what He has provided or given to us. If you do not have a million dollars, God will not ask that from you. But He will ask you to use what you have and to give what you have in service and surrender to Him. He is worthy—always and forever.
The act of spreading one’s clothing was a common way to offer homage and tribute to a king. A royal figure was often feted and honored in this way. For example, in 2 Kings 9:13 we read, “They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, ‘Jehu is king!’” And in Luke, the people were affirming that Jesus is King. Holy Scripture teaches us that Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the supreme sovereign of heaven and earth (see Matthew 28:18). As King, He alone is worthy of our best offerings, sacrifices and loyalty. Paul reminds us of the coming day where all creation will acknowledge the kingship of Jesus. Paul wrote, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
As we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week, consider what you bring to the Lord. What do you offer? What do you cast or spread before Him? The most fitting gift we can bring is our lives—to offer them in praise, worship, service and surrender. In the midst of Holy Week, we can bring Him our time, worship, awe and silence. We can listen as He speaks to us through the familiar stories of His arrest, trial, betrayal, cross and resurrection. We can listen to these stories with unrivaled attention and humble contemplation...listening for when and where He might speak to us again. Have a great Thursday! Join us for worship this Sunday and a full Holy Week of events and occasions. Worship is always available at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.
If we think on this action for a few moments, we begin to wonder what we might cast or spread before the Lord today. We think about what we might offer to Him in worship, praise or surrender. Many people in the crowd that lined the street of Jesus’ entry probably had little more than their cloaks. It was likely not a gathering of the rich or well-to-do. But the people gave what they had. They surrendered the one thing they possessed so Jesus could be properly honored, welcomed and adored. The principle is for us to trust God with what we have. We are to offer to Him what He has provided or given to us. If you do not have a million dollars, God will not ask that from you. But He will ask you to use what you have and to give what you have in service and surrender to Him. He is worthy—always and forever.
The act of spreading one’s clothing was a common way to offer homage and tribute to a king. A royal figure was often feted and honored in this way. For example, in 2 Kings 9:13 we read, “They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, ‘Jehu is king!’” And in Luke, the people were affirming that Jesus is King. Holy Scripture teaches us that Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the supreme sovereign of heaven and earth (see Matthew 28:18). As King, He alone is worthy of our best offerings, sacrifices and loyalty. Paul reminds us of the coming day where all creation will acknowledge the kingship of Jesus. Paul wrote, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
As we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week, consider what you bring to the Lord. What do you offer? What do you cast or spread before Him? The most fitting gift we can bring is our lives—to offer them in praise, worship, service and surrender. In the midst of Holy Week, we can bring Him our time, worship, awe and silence. We can listen as He speaks to us through the familiar stories of His arrest, trial, betrayal, cross and resurrection. We can listen to these stories with unrivaled attention and humble contemplation...listening for when and where He might speak to us again. Have a great Thursday! Join us for worship this Sunday and a full Holy Week of events and occasions. Worship is always available at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
February
March
April
May
September
2023
January
Monday, January 2, 2023Tuesday, January 3, 2023Wednesday, January 4, 2023Thursday, January 5, 2023Monday, January 9, 2023Tuesday, January 10, 2023Wednesday, January 11, 2023Thursday, January 12, 2023Monday, January 16, 2023Tuesday, January 17, 2023Wednesday, January 18, 2023Thursday, January 19, 2023Monday, January 23, 2023Tuesday, January 24, 2023Wednesday, January 25, 2023Thursday, January 26, 2023Monday, January 30, 2023Tuesday, January 31, 2023
February
Wednesday, February 1, 2023Thursday, February 2, 2023Monday, February 6, 2023Tuesday, February 7, 2023Wednesday, February 8, 2023Thursday, February 9, 2023Monday, February 13, 2023Tuesday, February 14, 2023Wednesday, February 15, 2023Thursday, February 16, 2023Monday, February 20, 2023Tuesday, February 21, 2023Wednesday, February 22, 2023Thursday, February 23, 2023Monday, February 27, 2023Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Categories
Tags
Acts
Bible
Communion
Cross
God's will
God\'s will
God
Gospels
Holy Spirit
Holy Week
Jesus
Joseph
Lent
Peter
Reformation
Satan
accountability
action
advent
all saints
allegory
anger
anxiety
apologetics
atonement
awareness
awe
backsliding
baptism
beginning
beloved
betrayal
bitterness
blessing
born again
burden
burnout
calling
care
change
character
chistmas
choices
christian living
christmas
church history
church
circumcision
comfort
commitment
community
compassion
complacency
confession
confidence
consequences
contentment
control
conversation
cost
courage
creation
death
debt
deception
decisions
deliverance
denial
dependence
depth
desire
despair
determination
devotion
direction
discernment
discipleship
discouragement
dishonesty
disobedience
distractions
doctrine
doubt
dreams
eagerness
emotion
encouragement
end times
endurance
equality
eternal life
eternity
evangelism
evil
example
facing battles
faithful living
faithfulness
faith
family
fatigue
fear
fellowship
focus
follow
foreshadowing
forgiveness
foundation
freedom
friends
fruit of the Spirit
future
generosity
gifts
giving
glory
goodness
gospel
grace
grateful
gratitude
greed
grit
growth
guidance
guilt
halloween
happiness
healing
heart
heaven
help
history
holiday
holiness
home
honesty
hope
humble
humility
identity
impossible
incarnation
inspiration
instruction
integrity
intentional
jealousy
journey
joy
judgment
justice
justification
kindness
kingdom
knowing God
lament
law
leadership
lead
lies
life
listening
love
martin luther
maturity
measure
memorial
memories
mentoring
mercy
messiah
minor prophets
miracles
missions
mission
mistakes
motives
mountaintops
mourning
music
nation
nativity
nature
new year
new
next generation
obedience
obstacles
offering
omniscience
opportunity
opposition
overcoming
parenting
passion
path
patience
peace
pentecost
persecution
perseverence
perspective
plan
poetry
power
praise
prayer
preparation
presence
pressure
pride
priorities
process
prodigal
progress
promise
prophecy
protection
provision
psalm
purpose
rebellion
reconcile
redemption
refuge
rejoice
relationship
remember
remembrance
renewal
renown
repentance
resentment
resolution
restoration
rest
resurrection
return
revenge
revival
righteousness
risk
sacrifice
sadness
salt
salvation
sanctification
scripture
second coming
seeking God
self-control
serenity
sermon
service
shame
sharing
silence
sincerity
sin
solitude
sorrow
sovereignty
spiritual disciplines
standard
star
stewardship
storms
strength
struggle
stubbornness
stuck
submission
success
suffering
surrender
talents
talking
temple
temptation
ten commandments
testimony
testing
thankfulness
thankful
thanksgiving
theology
time
tithes
tough times
traditions
transfiguration
trials
trinity
troubles
trust
truth
veterans
victory
vision
waiting
warning
weakness
wisdom
wise men
witness
wonder
work
worship
No Comments