Playback speed
Luke 19:36-37 NLT
'As he rode along, the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.'
Today we begin a short series of readings that leads us into Easter. On Palm Sunday a jubilant crowd celebrated Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem. Only the Pharisees attempted to pour cold water on Jesus’ parade of praise.
Scripture teaches that God inhabits the people’s praises (Psalm 22:3). It’s why we lift up our voices in hymns, psalms and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19). Christianity is a celebratory faith. Here, though the crowd may not have understood the significance, the King was making his progress towards his enthronement. This was a truly special event in the making. Over the next few days we shall see Jesus take up his position as King and Lord of all. Even as the days ahead are marked with sadness, they are of the greatest significance and the birthplace of hope for all humanity.
I have taken quite some time to learn that hope is the foundational refrain throughout all of life. For woven into its many twists and turns are the steps I need to take to deepen my encounter with Jesus. The crowd, now jubilant, will discover the celebratory sounds fade, carried away on the winds of controversy and apparent disappointment. In our own world, while it’s easy to find confidence in congregational praise on a Sunday, it’s often hard to carry the tune into Monday and the rest of our working week. Hence the need to take some time, even just a few minutes, to celebrate each day the hope God gives. To recover the hope that I carry in my heart, yet which daily living seeks to steal from me.
This week, walk into Jerusalem with Jesus and celebrate the journey that led to his enthronement and the promise and security of your salvation.
QUESTION: Hope is the underlying gift of God. Are you able to lay hold of hope?
PRAYER: I give thanks, for I know that the greatest hope I have is Jesus. I praise you for this heavenly hope offers me true fullness of life.
Released on 6 Apr 2020
Luke 19:45-47 NLT 'Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” After t...
Luke 20:1-2 NLT One day as Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? W...
Luke 21:3-4 NLT “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” “You can only do your best” is a...
You’re almost there! To access this content
A world of great Christian audio is just around the corner
We are SO excited to announce the return of Premier Christmas radio for a second year running! It's finally time to get festive with our pop-up Christmas radio station. Allow us to fill your days with Hope, Peace, Joy and Love this winter with our carefully crafted Christmas radio. Listen Now