Sunday, 2nd April 2023

Topic: Jesus’s triumphal entry-A roadmap to ministry and mission.

Texts: Matthew 21:1-17

Preacher: MUHINDO MALUNGA

On Palm Sunday, we commemorate Jesus’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, which marks the beginning of the Holy week leading to Easter Sunday.

The following reflections reveal the lenses through which we can look at the story of the Palm Sunday and see how we can apply that for the mission.

1. A CELEBRATED JESUS

Jesus comes into Jerusalem as a famous person, people have heard and witnessed his deeds and miracles, people come from all places to celebrate and honor him. However, Jesus is not fooled by the praise; and amid the celebration, Christ had compassion on the people, his heart was broken for the very same people because he knows they ignore why they are praising, as Christians do we respond with sympathy when celebrated as Christ did? We need to keep a heart of compassion rather than focusing on the praise or honors we get.

1. THE MISUNDERSTOOD JESUS

When the people shouted "Hosanna!" they were hailing Christ as King. That word actually means "save us now," and though in their own minds, they waited for an earthly king who would deliver them from the oppression of the romans. There’s a wide misunderstanding between what Christ want to achieve and what the people expect from him.

 God had a different way of bringing true salvation to all who would trust in Him.

1. THE ELUSIVE JESUS

Jesus went into the temple of God, and found people trading there, he overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, said unto them, it is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. People being stuck to their tradition and the idea of who the savior is, they rejected him for what he did. 

Beloved brethren, Palm Sunday is a reminder of the selfless love Jesus showed by laying down his life for us, and it is a time to reflect on our own lives and how we can show that same love to those around us and see how we can apply it for mission just like the donkey that carried Jesus, we have a role to play in the ministry of Christ.