April 6, 2016 (Wednesday)
Our Bible Study tonight at Bethel Baptist Church, Ingleside, will take us back to Palm Sunday in Mark 11:1-11. With the actual Palm Sunday of 2016 immediately behind us, we will be equipped to study Jesus’ triumphal entry in to Jerusalem in Mark’s gospel.
Jesus entered the city on a donkey colt, in fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy, and was met by throngs of people shouting “Hosanna,” as they spread their clothing and palm fronds on the ground along the pathway.
Jesus, however, was weeping as he anticipated the events of the week, when the people would reject Him, call for His crucifixion, and watch as He would be arrested, tried and sentenced to death. He was not weeping for Himself, for He had predicted these events in an effort to prepare His disciples for the tragedies of the week, but He was weeping for Jerusalem and the Jewish people, for the city would be destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. If they had accepted Jesus as their Messiah, history would read much differently as the Jews would have become a missionary nation, spreading the good news of the Messiah throughout the world.
For the moment, let us focus on the praise by the multitude as He entered Jerusalem. It reminds me of a wonderful hymn, “Praise Him! Praise Him!” wirtten in 1869 by Fanny Crosby:
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy Name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long.
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!
Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!