Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD

Previously I wrote a blog about the celebrations on Palm Sunday, based on Luke 19:40. Based on the same, our Sunday worship was conducted and the believers were filled with joy that was never seen, everyone shouting “Hosanna” with vigour that was never associated with them. We felt the presence of the LORD so much, it felt as if we were really taking part in the royal procession with Jesus riding among us, on the colt.

But the joy was short-lived. Both messages given on Sunday focussed on the next verse, Luke 19:41, that when Jesus saw Jerusalem, He wept. And the messages went something like this: Yes, you have shouted happily, but Jesus is weeping all this time. HE is weeping at you, looking at how you are going to be destroyed. For He is not happy with your celebrations. Celebrations are good, but Jesus is weeping.

Needless to say, it left the jubilant church shell-shocked. They had no idea what hit them and they had no idea, honestly, that something was going to hit them. I am not against divine warning. There are times the Spirit of God moves the ministers of God in mysterious ways. But, how come it is the same message every Palm Sunday – that Jesus is weeping because of me and I am going to be destroyed? Why does not He weep on other Sundays, but only on Palm Sundays – I have no idea. I really felt bad for the church members.

Then in the evening, we were watching a prayer service from one of the well-known evangelists, someone who I respect a lot and someone through whom God has led me during some of the toughest periods in my life. And, he was telling something like: Oh, all the apostles were singing and dancing, but there the LORD is sitting on the colt, weeping. John, the beloved apostle, is joyfully dancing, but he forgot to look at his Master’s eyes, which are filled with tears. Peter is singing aloud, happily, but he does not have time to look at Jesus, Who is weeping over Jerusalem. Yes, all His disciples have abandoned a weeping Jesus, because they are busy singing and dancing. You people are also like this. Jesus is weeping, but you are singing praises and dancing.

As I said before, there is nothing wrong in warning people. But to take the Bible out of context, and belittling the apostles and the disciples of Jesus Christ, for something they did that which was opposed by the Pharisees, but commended by the Lord – I was surprised. Why so much antagonism for worshipping the LORD? And why so much distortion of the Biblical verses?

First of all, there is no Biblical verse that tells us that Jesus Christ was weeping all through the procession. Only when He came near the city, He looked and wept over it. But then the procession continued after that, because Matthew mentions that the people of Jerusalem were asking, “Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10) Nowhere the Pharisees, who were quick to find fault with the disciples of our LORD, were pointing to our Saviour that His disciples were celebrating while He was weeping.

Why did the LORD weep over Jerusalem? Because everyone was shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD! Hosanna in the Highest!” But not the people of Jerusalem. Even when the procession entered the walls of Jerusalem, they were trembling with fear, about this. Because if the Romans think that the Jews are trying to make Jesus their King, they would come against Jerusalem first. And surprisingly, you will notice that is the same reaction they had when the wise men from East had informed Herod of the birth of our Saviour. They were troubled along with Herod. (Matthew 2:3)

In both cases, they were worried about what would happen to them… they were trying to save their skin, rather than celebrating the birth of their King or proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ. They were worried about what the consequences would be if they also shout: Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD.

That is the reason why Jesus wept over Jerusalem, saying “Especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace”, that they have missed their chance to accept Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace… for they wanted peace that the world gives, that the Roman emperor gave… not the peace that Jesus provides. It is their refusal to shout, in jubilation, “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD” was the final nail.

And Jesus Himself says that. After His arrival into Jerusalem, Jesus proclaims the same curses again in Matthew 23:37-38, and He tells them that they will see Him no more, till they say, “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD.” (Matthew 23:39)

So, how can preachers use this verse to curse and denounce their church members, who just joined the multitude to praise, sing and worship the LORD, saying “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD! Hosanna in the Highest!”? May more and more people of God sing those words and praise Him, for He deserves the praise.

ஒரு தியானம், ஒரு தீர்க்கதரிசனம்

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A meditation, a prophecy

As I was reading the daily meditations, I read this today, written by George Bowen, who was an American missionary to India. For one second, I thought he had written this just few years back, because it is so relevant today and what is happening around the Christian world. But then it was written in 1880s and, what a prophetic word from a man of God.

The world that pursued Christ unrelentingly, until it had driven Him forth, has ever since been doing its best to make His followers silent concerning Him. “Thou shalt not confess the Lord Jesus Christ,” is the first and great commandment of the world, and if it can only get this obeyed it will give a dispensation from all other duties. It has tried fire and the sword abundantly; but in these latter days its tactics are more subtle.

It is all courtesy, and addressing the Christian, says: – ” There is a great deal that is admirable about Christianity, and I blame myself very much that I have so neglected it. Allow me to be your scholar. I will sit at your feet, and learn of you. In return I will be happy to teach you what I know. We must go hand in hand along the journey of life.”

The Christian is charmed by this amicable proposal, and falls into the snare. The world learns something, just to lull the Church asleep; and the Church learns, alas! much of the world.

Day 41. John 1:16

And from His fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.

When I realized the importance of grace and wanted to know how to receive grace upon grace, everyone told me to do this and to do that. But when I turned to the Word of God, I realized that it is because of the fullness of Jesus Christ, I receive grace upon grace. And it is at the Calvary, I see His fullness and the more I meditate on the Crucified Saviour, the more grace I have been receiving, grace upon grace, never ending. For His fullness has no limits; so is for the grace He bestows on us.