Victory Before the Battle

Every year I pray to God for an understanding of the significant celebrations in the Christian tradition. The triumphant entry or Palm Sunday is one of such traditions.

The following is my reflection on how this year’s triumphant entry ministered to me…

“Victory Before Battle”

Have you ever had to wait for something? For instance to anticipate an event to happen, to complete an awaiting task, to face a challenge and the like. The anticipation experience is often accompanied with feelings of anxiety, fear, some could be happy feelings but when the expecting event is a challenge or battle it is often fear that accompanies it.

I think of the triumphant entry experience as an awaiting moment for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Jesus knew for the reason of redeeming humanity to God was why he came.

Jesus Christ came on earth to bring eternal life for all of humanity. It was important we obtained eternal life that we can have a personal relationship with God as our Lord and Savior. At long last, the time is finally near the death of Jesus Christ was imminent.

As Jesus approached Jerusalem, he was met with celebrations and joyful singing praising and honoring Him for what he has done in their lives. They looked to Christ to liberate them from the oppressive rule of the Roman empire, they had lost their way from the truth of God and darkness had encroached on them. They were in desperate need of a Savior and here Jesus Christ the Messiah boldly enters Jerusalem as a mighty King yet humble and meek as he comes riding on a donkey to face the cross that will save God’s people. In this entrance the prophecy spoken of in Zechariah 9:9 is fulfilled

Rejoice, O people of Zion![a] Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious,[b] yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt

While some people celebrated and recognized Jesus Christ as the Messiah, others were blinded to see Jesus Christ for who He is. They could not see what God wanted them to see. The Messiah is here!

While Palm Sunday represents a day to reveal Jesus Christ as the Messiah to God’s people it is also a day and a moment when God the Father sets up to give our Lord Jesus Christ a glimpse of the glory after the crucifixion on the cross.

God in His grace and wisdom knowing the human nature in Jesus Christ understood as humans when humans face challenges we can become distraught, we can lose hope, we can give up and just even sometimes just allow the problem to consume us. God knew that Jesus Christ had the greatest burden of all to carry so, God prepared this triumphant day to assure Jesus Christ that victory will be attained on Calvary.

Beloved, I do not know the battles you are facing in your life. Maybe it is a financial battle, ailment battle, relationship battle, family battle, work battle, emotional battle, a battle in one way or another is going on in your life. I want you to know that God is with you and the God who called you to be a soldier has also prepared victory to be obtained at the end of the battle.

What does Palm Sunday mean to you today?

It means that God gives us glimpses of his glory when before the battle. I pray that we will not miss the glimpses of glory to come that God is showing us in our lives.

Celebrate the victory Beloved, bask into praise and worship, exalt the name of God, think of His goodness that has kept you in the past and that this same great and gracious God will be able to keep you in this also. The celebration of the victory strengthens us to press on, it helps us to know after the crucifixion there will be a resurrection, it affirms the truth that death does not have the final say, that in the end, Jesus Christ has the final say. The God of all who says that even if these do not praise me, the stones will. God will reign supreme over all things.

Beloved, today on this Palm Sunday, I ask in the words of Hebrews 12:2 that let us

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.”

Celebrate your victory in the faith you have in God and truly after the crucifixion, there will be a resurrection.

mountain-top