Jesus' Triumphant Entry
John 12:12-30
The Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus dwells in me, and I am made perfect.
The triumphant entry into Jerusalem by Jesus Christ leads us into a deeper and better understanding of God’s involvement in all the activities of His earthly journey. The people were truly in need of restoration for Israel in so much that when they heard and saw Jesus riding on an ass into Jerusalem they all trooped to the street. Their adoration was short-lived and their commitment was shallow because in few days they would do nothing to stop his crucifixion. Note that devotion based only on curiosity or popularity fades quickly but the truth stands the test of time.
We must be committed to living the Christ life that disowns tyrannical rule of self centeredness. We need to serve God lovingly and freely allowing Him to be in total control of our lives. We should not be afraid of rejection or ridicule or excommunication by a fretful believer whose praises are short lived when they discover we are not material minded.
Our concern is centered on God’s eternal acceptance. Palm Sunday is the Sunday proceeding Easter. It is the Sunday used in celebrating Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a day that people from all walks of life come together into Jerusalem for a particular purpose, a day that turned round the popular idea of materiality to spirituality. The day that marks the beginning of the week that changed the world.
Jerusalem is both a commercial centre and a Holy city to all the faithful and it symbolizes within us the habitation of peace, possession of peace, vision of peace, and the abode of prosperity within us. It is the abiding consciousness of spiritual peace, which is the result of continuous realization of spiritual power tempered with spiritual poise and confidence. Jerusalem symbolizes the great nerve centre just back of the heart. From this point spirit sends its radiance to all parts of the body.
The I AM identity, the Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Christ of the New Testament — Jesus going into Jerusalem — means our taking the last step in unfoldment preparatory to the final step when the personality is entirely crucified and the Christ triumphs.
To popularize the movement from material to Spiritual, Jesus needed a vehicle that would take him into Jerusalem. He spotted an unusual way by choosing an untrained ass that had been in chains for ages. He set free that animal by transforming its untrained animal character with the Christ spiritual quality dominating it. We don’t know how long the animal had suffered in bondage and rejection but the moment Christ touched it, there was divine restoration for it. His riding the ass into Jerusalem means the fulfillment of the time when the spiritual I AM within us takes control and lifts all the animal force up to the spiritual plane of mastery, purity and peace.
When Jesus Christ, your spiritual identity, the I AM of your being takes charge of the body, a new order is inaugurated. The vitality is no longer wasted but utilized for the lifting up of the spiritual man. Through high and pure ideals the whole consciousness is raised to a higher standard.
We do not need to compel people to respect us but the moment we attune ourselves with the divine, people from all walks of life will gather because God has chosen and called them together in honor of the elect. The Hosanna of the rejoicing multitude and the spreading of their garments and branches of tree before Jesus represent joyful obedience and homage that all the thoughts in one’s consciousness give when an error State” of mind is overcome.
