Focus on Jesus - Part 1

Okay, confession time. I have been struggling with inspiration lately. I keep having ideas that end up in my writing journal but never in a word document. Yesterday, as I sat in my big comfy chair and stared out the window looking at the bright blue sky and cotton-shaped clouds, I settled on a thought. 

This week we should focus on Jesus. I'm sure you're thinking, “this is a Christian encouragement blog, of course we're going to focus on Jesus.” And you would be right to have that thought, but I mean this in a more specific way. This week we should focus on Jesus and the week leading up to His death. 

On the Christian calendar this week is known as “Holy Week.” It is the week when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem for the final time because He would spend this week being tried and killed. For all of us, this is the time that began the rest of our lives, because it was in this week that Jesus died and purchased our freedom from sin with His blood. But, I must stop because I am getting ahead of myself. 

Today I encourage all of us to think about Jesus’ grand entry into Jerusalem. After all, today is Palm Sunday (it received this name because that is what the people waved at Jesus as He rode into town on a donkey). Men, women, and children lined up along the streets and welcomed Jesus into town because they believed Him to be their Messiah. In their minds He would save them from Roman oppression. In reality, He was going to save them from eternal damnation and the greatest enemy this world has ever known – Satan. 

I'm not going to focus on the faults of the people but rather their initial response to Jesus. In John 12:13 we read “So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 

There is so much happening in this small portion of scripture and I look forward to reviewing it together as we enter this Holy Week. Here the people acknowledged Jesus as King. Again, they believed He would save them from their earthly woes. For a man that was simply going to free them from an oppressive government, they waved palm branches, and they laid down their own coats at the donkey’s feet to welcome this man into the city. They sang and shouted His praises; saying hosanna “which signifies salvation (Henry).” All of this for a king of flesh and blood.

We know today that Jesus was more than a mere king. He is the Savior of the world, Lord of all creation, author of perfection, bright and morning star, end and the beginning, and king of all kings! Jesus is almighty God. He defeated Satan and conquered sickness, death, and hell. He is all of this and more!
Yet, when we come to worship Him in corporate or private settings, what does it look like? Is it tainted by obligation? Is it over-shadowed by other responsibilities? Is it “old hat” because we've done it for so long? 

If the people of Jerusalem could “roll out the red carpet” for a man they thought to be a mere king, should we not do the same (if not more) for our Savior? The one who shed His own blood for us? 

My challenge to all of us this week is to focus on Jesus – the king of all kings. If you have trouble breaking out of your mundane worship rituals, try starting this way: “Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Work Cited 
Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on John 12." Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar, 1996. Web. 20 Mar, 2016. <http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Jhn/Jhn_012.cfm>.