Fruitful Living
CHRIST OUR LORD (Part 1)
DEAR READER,
AS Palm Sunday dawns upon us once again, we are drawn into the majesty, and meaning of the final days of Jesus’ earthly journey. While the image of Jesus riding triumphantly into Jerusalem on a colt is often the central focus— glorious and significant though it is— today, we invite you to step into the Gospel of Luke’s profound account of these events.
Luke’s narrative not only recounts Jesus’ entry into the city but also draws us into the heartbeat of His mission: a journey not merely to a city but to the very cross where love would be poured out without measure.
Let us take a walk with Luke and look afresh at the approach, the purpose, and the passion of Christ our Lord.
The Triumphal Approach to Jerusalem: Luke 19:28-40
After Jesus said this, He went on in front of them toward Jerusalem. As He came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent two disciples ahead with these instructions: “Go to the village there ahead of you; as you go in, you will find a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If someone asks you why you are untying it, tell him that the Master needs it.” They went on their way and found everything just as Jesus had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying it?” “The Master needs it,” they answered, and they took the colt to Jesus.
Then they threw their cloaks over the animal and helped Jesus get on. As He rode on, people spread their cloaks on the road. When He came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives, the large crowd of His disciples began to thank God and praise Him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen:
“God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!” Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “command your disciples to be quiet!” Jesus answered, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.” – (Good News)
Let us now continue with why Christ died. The hymn writer, Henry Francis Lyte (1793 – 1847) puts it so appropriately in one of his hymns.
“PRAISE, my soul, the King of heaven, To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Who like thee His praise should sing?
Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise the everlasting King.” – MHB 12: Stanza 1
And it is true Christ died that we would be delivered from bondage of sin – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Rom. 6:23 (NIV). Christ died to Ransom us, Heal us, Restore us and Forgive us.
As you enjoy this article, please commit yourself again to the Lord Jesus Christ whom to known is “Eternal Life.” Let Him ride into the “Jerusalem of your heart.” Weep over your sins and cleanse your heart which is the temple of the Holy Spirit from all that does not please our Holy, loving God.
WHY CHRIST DIED
When God first created mankind, He intended that an intimate relationship should exist between the Creator and His creatures. But the first man and woman chose to disobey God and, therefore, forfeited the privilege of this close friendship with God. Moreover, through their disobedience, sin made its entry into the world: ‘Sin came into the world through one man.’ – Romans 5:12
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author