Luke 19:38 (NIV84)
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
The Palm Sunday scene must have been something to behold! A street filled with crowds. Cloaks and palm branches laid in the road ahead of the approaching donkey. Shouts of acclamation. All for a man dressed remarkably like a teacher rather than a mighty king and followed by commoners rather than nobles. Yet the scene could not have been more fitting.
Jesus may not have looked the part on the outside but he is the eternal king. Humbly clothed in human flesh, Jesus entered Jerusalem with the greatest purpose imaginable. He came to bring peace better than the peace provided by any king or ruler before or since. Why? Because rather than bringing peace with some foreign nation, Jesus brought peace with the just and holy God.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem proclaiming a peace that human beings could never claim or broker for ourselves. And he brought peace for us? Scripture describes us as people who have gratified the sinful nature and who deserve God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:3). It seems impossible that he would do this for us when we know how we fail. In the mirror, we see a person who said, “Never again.” But we have. And Jesus came to bring us peace?
It seems impossible, but Jesus entered Jerusalem to accomplish the impossible. He came to accomplish our salvation. YOUR salvation. Even as he entered he proclaimed peace because with Jesus the king, the battle was as good as won already. He declared peace for us because he turned his power against those enemies that kept peace from us. The crowds were right as they shouted, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Jesus entered Jerusalem on the path to Calvary’s cross. On that cross, he would fight the ultimate, final battle to break the hold of sin, death, and Satan over our souls.
Jesus your king, entered Jerusalem to bring you peace! Remember that when you look in the mirror. Jesus won the battle against your sin and took it away forever. Even when Satan, the great accuser, points out the guilt of your past, you have great peace. Jesus has accomplished it. Jesus came to accomplish your peace. You are at peace with God.
PRAYER: Dear Savior King, Thank you for accomplishing what I could not. Thank you for bringing peace to me. When guilt and fear try again to overtake me, remind me that you entered Jerusalem to bring me peace. Quiet my doubts and fears and lead me to trust you. Amen.