PARADE OF THE PRINCE OF PEACE
As He rode along, the people spread their cloaks on the road.
And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives,
the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice
or all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“PeaceG1515 in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 19:36-38
Psalm 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
The crowd lauded Jesus as King. They had the expectation that He would conquer the occupying Romans and set up an earthly kingdom immediately. They quoted from Psalm 118:26 which was widely accepted as a Messianic Psalm. The people were praising Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah who would bring peace. However, they did not understand the kind of peace He offered. The angel who announced the Messiah’s arrival to the shepherds when Jesus was born proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). The angel did not announce an absence of war or strife. He said there would be peace for those who trusted in God. As Jesus rode the colt in His coronation procession, He knew what the peace they were shouting about would cost Him—His death on the cross—in a few short days. The One they thought would raise up an army to conquer Rome, would be nailed naked to a Roman cross and be raised up for the people to see His agony and shame. When they spoke of peace, they had no idea of its price. The peace Jesus purchased as the final, perfect sacrificial Lamb is the ability to be at peace with God and in an intimate Father/child relationship with the Creator of the universe!
Do you have this peace? It is offered to all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, born of a virgin to live a sinless life on earth, who died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin, and was raised from the grave three days later. Jesus now sits at the right-hand of God the Father in Heaven. You may have the peace and harmony with the Lord that Jesus died for by placing your trust in Him only, in Him alone.
Father, thank You for saving us by Your grace and giving us the faith to entrust our lives to Jesus. Thank you for the peace we enjoy even when life is creating all types of storms around us, the peace of knowing we are in Your hands, and You will never let us go.
John 10:27-30 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Worship along with Michael W. Smith’s “Hosanna”: