Stephen spoke tonight from Matt 21:7-9, looking at two aspects of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This event is recorded in all four gospels, and is therefore of importance to us in our understanding of the events leading up to Jesus’s death and resurrection.
The crowds lay down their garments and palm branches in homage to a king. They recognised Jesus as king (perhaps not understanding the heavenly nature of that role, but still seeing in Him the embodiment of a ruler.) We know with hindsight the eternal nature of Jesus’s kingdom and need to come before Him laying down our whole lives before Him. We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and the appropriate response is thankfulness, reverence and awe. (Heb 12:28) Our offering is not clothes or palm branches, but God asks us to offer our bodies, our whole selves, to Him. (Rom 12:1) True worship means giving ourselves to God, who is looking for responsive and humble hearts. (2 Chron 34:27)
The crowds also shouted ‘Hosanna!’, a shout of praise and acclamation which means ‘save’ or ‘rescue’. We may feel frustrated by current restrictions on us in church services which limit shouting and singing, but Christ sees our hearts and knows the cry of every heart, even if it is unspoken. Our king is before us, coming towards us, mighty to save.
Rev 7:9-12 gives us a glimpse into the future, a glimpse into heaven, as we see people holding palm branches and crying out that salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. Here, we see the fulfilment of the ‘Hosanna!’ we first heard on Palm Sunday, a crying out in praise from the masses who fell down on their faces in worship and awe. This must be our response too, asking God to take us just as we are and calling on Him to save us.