Here He Comes!

 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
John 12:12-13


I’m so glad the Easter holiday is around the corner. I have been meaning to establish some traditions at home and more importantly talk to my son about what this holiday means.
Recently he has been asking me all these questions about why Jesus hung on the cross? Who put the thorn on his head and why? Who the Jews are? Why did the soldiers beat Jesus? And many other questions special thanks to the bible story book which he is now reading – well not actually reading just looking at the pictures. So this period when we celebrate the life and death of Jesus just seems like a perfect time to start a new Easter tradition and explain the whole deal with the crucifixion of Christ to a busy lil mind.
Just so I was sure of what I was going to tell my son, I decided to read again the Easter story as told by John in the book of John chapter 12. One of the lines that stood out was how people welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem with Palm leaves. I looked up the significance of that – the palm represents victory, peace and life. And although at the time the people who welcomed Jesus didn’t realize they did this as prophesy that he was going to bring peace to man by bridging the gap between man and God which sin brought. And that this was going to enable them have eternal life if they did believe in him. The people at the time joyfully welcomed Jesus with Palms because they saw him as a strong leader that could deliver them from the hands of the Romans.
But God’s plans are always beyond the comprehension of men – so their symbolic welcome stirred up more strife for Jesus among the political leaders at the time and instigated the clever plot that ultimately cost him his life.
Today when we remember this day in history, we are grateful for what it symbolizes – the peace with God which his death brought us, the victory over sin which his blood brought us and the eternal life we now have in him. Happy Palm Sunday.
Can’t wait to read the Easter story to my lil boy when he wakes up J

Comments

  1. Isaiah 53:5 KJV

    But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53: 5.... Happy Easter everyone

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  2. Thanks Seye for sharing this. Had my own little episode when Damilola who is now six asked on our way to Good Friday service, "If Jesus died over two thousand years ago, why are we still talking about it?" I had the priviledge of trying to explain the importance of remembering the what, how and why of the Easter Story and how it applies to our everyday lives in the plainest way I could think of at a second's notice. May The Lord help us and give us more insights and wisdom as we train up our children to know and serve Him.

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