*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*THE PALM LEAVES OR THE PALM OF HIS HANDS?*
*Scripture Treasure.*
John 20:27 *Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
What do you remember Jesus for as we mark His entrance into Jerusalem?
The palm leaves or the palm on His hands?
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Today is palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter.
Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time before His death.
He entered riding a colt that no one had ever ridden, Matt 21:1–7. An event that was predicted by prophet Zechariah, Zech 9:9.
An event of liturgical history till eternity comes is the greeting of the
people who covered His path with palm leaves, flowering branches, and cloth. They recognized Him as King, shouting Hosanna and Hallelujah.
The questions today are two-fold.
We need to ask ourselves:
First, today is "Do we remember Him by the palm leaves, flowering branches or the blood on the palm of His hands?
Second, do we remember the palm leaves or how He has engraved us on the palm of His hands?
Answering these questions, the Scriptures point us to what is needful.
We will discuss the first question today.
First, we ought to remember Jesus more because of the blood on the palms of His hands.
He told Thomas what believing in Him is and also that He was willing to show him further why he must believe.
Belief is made active when you believe .
lt is either you believe or you do not believe. John 20:31, Acts 8:37, 1 John 5:7. Anyone who tells you he/she believes Jesus but does not believe He is the Son of God, has never believed in Him but has only known him by knowledge, or by historical facts.
Believing is without any doubt, the starting point, Rom 10:10.
If you believe, you will quickly pursue confession with all your heart. When He sees you have received Him, He gives you power to make you His child. This power is sustained when you continue to believe in His name, John 1:12.
Jesus's afterward appearance must have been a way to carry with Him the conviction of Thomas' sense of shame at his unbelief. Jesus's message was clear to him, 'Do not be unbelieving, but believing!"
Jesus's statement was to all who do not believe by His words but only by what they could see.
His statement reminds us that He became flesh, and this was proof of it. Yes, He had flesh and blood, He had not yet come to the disciples as a Spirit. Jesus said to him, *".....it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."* Luke 24:39.
Thomas could now see Him in the flesh.
What do you remember Jesus for as we mark His entrance into Jerusalem?
The palm leaves or the palm in His hands?
*Remorse corner.*
Jesus provides Thomas and those who do not believe with a Divine opportunity to assure them of the reality of His sufferings and the blood He shed.
*Call to Word action.*
Luke 24:39 *Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.*
*The Christian clarion call.*
Jesus's palm is indelible evidence of the supreme victory we have in His death and resurrection.
*Prayer.*
Lord, let me remember the blood on Your palm more than the palm leaves and branches, in Jesus name.
*Good morning and HAPPY PALM SUNDAY, in Jesus name.*
Good morning, all, and be blessed as you come into His presence today.
God bless you.
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