We will hear how the people welcomed Jesus as He rode His "majestic steed" into the Holy City of Jerusalem. They sang "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" and we will join our voices with theirs on Sunday, March 20^th. But we will also be reminded of the words of our Lord, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!" (Palm Sunday) and we should be reminded of our instinctive reaction when God’s Word of Law comes to us and indicts us in our sin.

With each passing day in Holy Week the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Priests, and the people intensified and so should our understanding of the world in which we live. For our Lord said, "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you."

On Thursday as our Lord’s Passion was about to begin, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper wherein He joined His body and blood to the simple elements of bread and wine. In so doing, He fulfills His promise, "Lo I will be with you always even to the end of the age" (Maundy Thursday) each and every time the words of institution are spoken and the elements are consumed.

Shortly after instituting the Sacrament of the Altar, He "retired" to the Garden wherein all who were with Him fell asleep while He prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." So, also, too many of us have fallen asleep. Too many of us do not stand guard against the devil, the world, and our old sinful natures. Rev. 3:15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

Following the arrest, trial, scourging, mocking, and His coronation with a crown of thorns and a royal robe, Jesus stood before the crowd to hear the "praise" of the people, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him." No coronation or inauguration is complete without a parade, so up a narrow street He marched toward His throne to reach His ultimate goal for He said, "Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal. Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. . . . ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’ "

The Son of God, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords was nailed to His throne as the people passed by to showed their regard "hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!"

As He hung on His throne, the King issued forth seven proclamations:

1. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

2. Today, you shall be with Me in paradise.

3. Behold thy son. Behold thy mother.

4. I thirst.

5. My God, My God, Why hast Thou Forsaken Me?

6. It is finished.

7. Into Thy hands I commend My Spirit

Then darkness fell over the land and over the souls of all who loved Him for He was dead and buried. (Good Friday). In fear that they might be next, His disciples hid on Saturday (Holy Saturday).

But on the third day, Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead just as He said. "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection."

That such a God/Man would endure all this for me . . . for you in light of all that I have done . . . that you have done to Him, in view of all that I and you have failed to do; that all our sins, our apathy, our lusts, and our doubts are forgiven is too much to believe. Yet, it is true for me and for you. See you in church.