PALM SUNDAY
In this week’s message Derrick Tickner talks about walking with Jesus, but this Palm Sunday we are also thinking about Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, at a walking pace no doubt. Surely this was the most significant welcome Jesus ever received while on earth. There, the shouts of ‘Hosanna!’ by the enthusiastic crowds proclaimed his Kingship. We know that they did not understand the nature of His kingship of an everlasting Kingdom, with God at its centre, and that less than a week later, many were crying out for His death. Nevertheless, as we consider the events of what we now call ‘Holy Week’ and as we walk with Jesus, let us rejoice and proclaim once again that He is not only our King, but Lord of all creation.
How are you ‘Walking’ Nowadays?
(Religion or a Relationship)
I have to admit it: the years are catching up with me, and I even have to use the assistance of a walking stick for any significant distance from home or to the letter box when mailing out these ‘Reflections’!
But I am encouraged that ‘walking’ has a number of incidents recorded in Scripture that can have a real significance for these days. My favourite Easter story is what has become known as ‘the walk to Emmaus’ (Luke 24 v.13-35). The conversation between Jesus and His two grieving friends reminds us that, just like them, our lives can be changed and our doubts resolved as we walk with our beloved Saviour. What an encouraging thought for these challenging days!
There are around 300 references in the Bible to ‘walk’ and ‘walking’. The very first Biblical reference occurs in Genesis when God walked in the Garden of Eden, expecting to meet Adam and Eve, only to find that they were deliberately hiding from Him (Genesis 3 v.8). Surely this is one of the saddest verses? But to balance that, just two chapters on, we find Enoch who ‘walked faithfully with God’ (Genesis 5 v.24). What a lovely testimony to leave behind you!
However, surely the greatest walking event must be that of our beloved Lord who ‘walked on water’! What was His purpose in doing that? Surely not a publicity stunt? Or was He going for the dramatic to impress people? No indeed! Nothing could have been further from His thoughts!
What Jesus did on that tempestuous night was done out of His loving heart, to reassure His troubled, fearful disciples of His loving care over them, even more than to prove His power over the very creation that He had put in place. If you have any lingering doubts, why not look up the record of that occasion in John 6 v.16-21.
Let me ask you: Do you walk with Jesus? Can you trust Him enough for whatever ‘storm’ may reach you this week? (Rev. Derrick Tickner)
To mark Palm Sunday, you can listen to ‘Make Way for Christ the King’ by Graham Kendrick: