WELCOMING JESUS CHRIST, THE PRINCE OF PEACE

THIS SERIES: EASTER MEDITATION

​This Sunday brings the start of Holy Week, when many in the Christian world remember the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection, starting with His arrival in Jerusalem on a donkey.

For those searching for peace, this is a really important story. For those who want an end to inner turmoil and unrest, this event spells hope.

Jesus’ contemporaries longed for solutions to their daily struggles, subjugated as they were to Roman domination, and many hoped for a Messiah who would lead them to military victory against their overlords. However when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, He was making a clear declaration that He had a different purpose in mind.

In biblical times, when a king rode into a community on a donkey, it meant he was coming in peace, not war. So here was Jesus (whose name means ‘God saves’), the Prince of Peace, riding into Jerusalem which means ‘city of peace’, on a donkey, the symbol of peace!​

The words of Zechariah’s prophecy would have been ringing in the ears of the discerning:​

Rejoice greatly, Daughter  of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
[Zechariah 9:9,10]
​

​And maybe some even remembered the words of Isaiah 9:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
[Isaiah 9:6,7]

RECEIVING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

For those searching for peace, the Palm Sunday story is really important. For those who want an end to inner turmoil and unrest, this event spells hope.

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​The peace of Christ wasn’t to be purchased through an earthly battle, the overthrow of the oppressors, His victory would be over the principalities and powers of darkness that stand behind human conflict and turmoil, a victory that would be purchased through the shedding of His blood. This entrance into Jerusalem was the public announcement that the ultimate battle for peace was due to commence.​

And it wasn’t just about dealing with conflict, the Greek and Hebrew words for peace also contain the meaning of completeness, safety, contentment, wholeness, prosperity, health and wellbeing. The Lord was coming to His people offering salvation in its widest sense.
​
​What a tragedy that so many missed the point, and didn't recognise that the longed-for answer to their problems, was actually riding through their gates. And that others gave Him lip-service, but didn't actually avail themselves of what He was carrying.

His words to Jerusalem, strike at our hearts too, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” [Matthew 23:37]. The challenge to us is that Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever, still comes to us offering peace in its fullness. Let’s be people who respond, and press in to receive from Him all that He died to give us, people who avail ourselves of the riches purchased on the Cross.

THIS WEEK’S GRACE RHYTHM

​Take some time with the beautiful song below.
Get very quiet inside, turn the focus of your heart on the Lord, and speak out any worries and stresses that are troubling you. Give them to Him.
Then listen to this song and receive the Prince of Peace:

​My heart a storm,
clouds raging deep within
The Prince of Peace came
bursting through the wind
The violent sky held its breath
And in Your light I found rest

Tearing through the night
Riding on the storm
Staring down the fight
My eyes found Yours
Shining like the sun
Striding through my fear
The Prince of Peace
Met me there

You heard my prayer

Hope like the sun,
light piercing through the dark
The Prince of Peace came
and broke into my heart
The violent cross, the empty grave
And in Your light I found grace

Tearing through the night
Riding on the storm
Staring down the fight
My eyes found Yours
Shining like the sun
Striding through my fear
The Prince of Peace
Met me there

You're always there
And You hear my prayer

Your love surrounds me
When my thoughts wage war
When night screams terror
There Your voice will roar
Come death or shadow
God I know Your light will meet me there ​

​​When fear comes knocking
There You'll be my guard
When day breeds trouble
There You'll hold my heart
Come storm or battle
God I know Your peace will meet me there

(Again and again)
Oh, be still my heart
I know that You are God
Oh fear no evil
For I know You are here

And my soul will know
Your love surrounds me
When my thoughts wage war
When night screams terror
There Your voice will roar
Come death or shadow
God I know Your light will meet me there

And my soul will know
When fear comes knocking
There You'll be my guard
When day breeds trouble
There You'll hold my heart
Come storm or battle
God I know Your peace will meet me there

Oh, be still my heart
And my soul will ever know that You are God
And You heard my prayer

​From the Album 'Of Dirt & Grace' by Hillsong United. Click above to purchase from Amazon*

NEXT WEEK: MIGHTY IS THE POWER OF THE CROSS

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[Photo credits:  Brady Leavell (Palm Sunday crowd);  Jacob Bentzinger (single arm); Sara Kurfess (phone)
​ @ Unsplash, with thanks]