Today, in Wrestling with Truth, we considered the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry in Luke 19.

We first listened to a recording of “The Palms” (Jean-Baptiste Faure) presented by a Korean piano trio.  You can view/hear this at:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKkoMaFAsk

Here is one translation of the words to The Palms  (Les Rameaux):

O’er all the way green palms and blossoms gay
Are strewn this day in festal preparation
Where Jesus comes to wipe our tears a way
E’en now the throng to welcome Him prepare
Join all and sing, His name declare,
Let ev’ry voice resound with acclamation
Hosanna! Praise to the Lord!
Bless Him who cometh to bring us salvation!

His word goes forth, and people by its might
Once more regain freedom from degradation
Humanity doth give to each his right,
While those in darkness are restored to light
Join all and sing, His name declare,
Let ev’ry voice resound with acclamation
Hosanna! Praise to the Lord!
Bless Him who cometh to bring us salvation!

Sing and rejoice. O blest Jerusalem,
Of all thy songs sing the emancipation;
Through boundless love, the Christ of Bethlehem
Brings forth the hope to thee forevermore.
Join, sing His name divine,
Let ev’ry voice resound with united acclamation,
Hosanna! Praised be the Lord,
Bless Him who cometh to bring us salvation.

–Jean-Baptiste Faure

[If you prefer another classical and historic version (in French) by Enrico Caruso, try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR54h-OJhiI]

We discussed the emotions of the followers/crowd, the opposing Jewish leaders, and Jesus himself.

Jesus wept at the blindness of the Jewish leaders and their inability to hear and know and accept the message of salvation that he was bringing to them.

Some practical lessons for Disciples (Ralph Wilson)

1.     Regarding Jesus’ instructions about obtaining the donkey, we are to obey Jesus when he tells us to do something. Just because we don’t understand how everything will work out is no reason to refuse to budge when it is time to obey.

2.     We must be ready and willing for Jesus to claim use of our possessions and positions. Since he is our Master, they don’t belong to us, but to him. When he sends a message, “The Lord has need of it,” we must relinquish our control willingly and immediately.

3.     Praise can be received with humility. Jesus did not crave the praise of men, but neither did he silence it. It was fitting. It was appropriate.

4.     There is a time to be guarded about who we are in God, and there is a time to be fully open about it. We must not operate out of fear or self-absorption, but be sensitive to what God wants to do and then cooperate with that.

5.     Rejoicing and pain can co-exist. They did in Jesus at the Triumphal Entry, and they often coexist in our lives, too. There will be no complete rejoicing until we rejoice fully in heaven, after God has wiped away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4).

6.     And, of course, one of the strongest lessons of this passage is that Jesus IS King! He IS the Messiah, the Son of David, and as such, it is fitting that we worship him.

Tony Headley suggested #7 :  If we reject the light that we are given, blindness will come.

TLT