Greetings Redeemer family,
This week is Palm Sunday, the traditional celebration of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on the week before His crucifixion. It’s a holiday of strange contrasts. The week begins with the people of Jerusalem waving branches and cheering for their Messiah. Yet five short days later, these same people screamed for His death. Through the course of the service this week, we walk through this progression.
Our service begins with a reading from Psalm 118. When Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, the people called out “Hosanna,” and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna is a Hebrew term that meant, “Save us!” In doing so, they were quoting Psalm 118:25-26. Like them, we celebrate the coming of our King as we worship Him, using the words of the psalmist.
Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Our opening hymn is a traditional Palm Sunday text, sung in churches across the English world this week. From my friend, John Bennetch, here’s some of the history of this hymn:
This hymn appears in virtually every English language hymnal used in Christian worship in the world today, and is sung on Palm Sunday because of its clear reference to the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 12). The text was written in 818 by Bishop Theodulph of Orleans (France) while he was imprisoned for allegedly conspiring against King Louis the Pious. As the title suggests, this is a hymn of praise to Christ. (The word “laud” means “praise or adoration”)
In the first verse we are reminded of Christ’s work by the use of such names given to Him as Redeemer, King, King of Israel, David’s royal Son, and blessed One. We see reference to the children singing hosannas to the Lord (in fulfillment of prophecy) If you sing this hymn with children, help them to see the connection between Is. 62:11, Zech. 9:9, Psalm 118:26, and the Matthew 21 passage.
All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer, King, To Whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son, Who in the Lord’s Name comest, The King and Blessèd One.
Don’t miss what happens next! In verses two and three we see and sing a wonderful picture of worship past, present, and future. So often we talk about the communion of saints and the link we have with those who have gone ahead of us to glory. Follow these wonderful progressions of truth:Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son, Who in the Lord’s Name comest, The King and Blessèd One. The company of angels Are praising Thee on High, And mortal men and all things Created make reply.
v.2: The people of Jerusalem praised Jesus, waving palm branches and placing their garments on the ground- a welcome reserved for a king! We too worship Christ- but we sing our praise to the high exalted One!
To Thee, before Thy passion, They sang their hymns of praise; To Thee, now high exalted, Our melody we raise. Thou didst accept their praises; Accept the prayers we bring, Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King.
v.3: A petition to the Lord- asking him to accept our praise, as he accepted the praise of those who welcomed him into Jerusalem. And rejoice that our gracious Redeemer King delights in what is truly good and has lavished His love on us!
While this is a very famous hymn, it may be unfamiliar to many of you. Here’s a youtube link to a recording of the hymn. I hope this will help you to learn the melody, so that you can participate with us when we sing on Sunday.
Following this hymn, we will sing a hymn that will probably be more familiar to many of you, “Our God Our Help in Ages Past.” The words are a powerful prayer, looking to God for hope and deliverance from current troubles, knowing that He has proved Himself faithful in the past. Let these words be a comfort and encouragement to your heart as you sing them.
Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home. Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.
Our comfession of faith this week comes from the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and reminds us that Christ did come to redeem and save us from the ravages of sin and misery.
Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery? A. God, having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.
Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect? A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.
God sent Chirst to redeem us and to be our King. Like the people that initially gave Jesus a royal welcome on Palm Sunday, we want a messiah that comes on our terms. Christ came to deliver us into a His eternal kingdom. We think that He came just to make our personal, temporary feifdoms a little more comfortable. This pride and self-consumption is another example of our deep need of a true Savior and true Redeemer. With this in mind, we will pray together the following prayer of confession.
King Jesus, we admit that we have failed you, as did the crowds and even your first disciples. Like them, we want a different kind of king. Like them, we do not want to share in your sufferings, to take part in your lowliness, nor to humbly serve our fellow man.
We plead for your mercy, ask your help and seek your grace. In our selfishness, we betray your leadership. Lord, in your mercy, forgive us. In our fearfulness, we deny your friendship. Lord, in your mercy, forgive us. In our shamefulness, we abandon your presence. Lord, in your mercy, forgive us. In our apathy, we forsake your calling. Lord, in your mercy, forgive us.
In our luxury, we renounce your cross. Lord, in your mercy, forgive us. O Lord, hear now the cry of your people. Because you are the One who loves to show mercy,
rain your forgiveness, grace and Holy Spirit upon us.
Our Assurance of Pardon this week also comes from the same Psalm that we read at the beginning of the service. These words are a powerful reminder of the strong and faithful love of God.
Let those who fear the Lord say, His steadfast love endures for ever. Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
Marc Corbett, the RUF minister in Lynchburg, will be preaching this week. He will be teaching on Jesus’ crucifixion, and the reaction of the two theives to Jesus’ saving power. One mocked Him. The other trusted. Before the sermon, we will sing another traditional Easter-time hymn. “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” is a meditation on the glorious mystery of cross, as the Son of God died for our sins. The haunting melody is a solemn reminder of the suffering He bore on our behalf. He died that we might live.
O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown; O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest Friend, For this thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? O make me thine for ever; and should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.
Brothers and sisters, we stand today as those who have been redeemed by Christ. He has made us His own, out of His great love. By the power of the cross, He has fully paid for all of our sin and shame. In His final words, He proclaimed “It is finished!” All that remains for us is to live out our loving response to Him – to join Him in the Kingdom work of spreading His fame to the world.
May our light shine in the darkness As we walk before the cross May Your glory fill the whole earth As the water over the seas
From the mountain to the valley Hear our praises rise to You From the heavens to the nations Hear our singing fill the air
I can’t wait to hear the joyful singing on Sunday! Grace and Peace of Christ be with you always,
Tim Sharpe Worship Director
