Summary of Dr. Péter Hack’s Sermon on March 24, 2024
The biblical holidays are very strongly forward-looking, based on which we can wait for the fulfillment of prophecies. On Palm Sunday, Zechariah’s prophecy was fulfilled. The prophecy contains a form of duality: on one hand, the Messiah comes as a King, and on the other, humbly riding on a donkey’s colt. Jesus entered Jerusalem humbly, riding on a donkey. This can be the reason why the Jews did not recognize the Messiah in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lamb of God, yet at the same time, He did not lose His royal nature. He will come as a ruler and will reign on Earth for a thousand years.
When Jesus Christ arrived in Jerusalem, His first task was to restore proper worship. On Palm Sunday, the crowd shouted upon His arrival, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
At this time, people declared Jesus as Lord through the Holy Spirit. This greeting was addressed to the Son of David, the Messiah. The first word of the shout, “Hosanna,” means “Save us!” Yes, man needs deliverance, because we live more and more difficult times, so we can not convince people with false speeches. It is there in the 118th Psalm that “Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” When they shout this in Israel, Jesus will come back. It has a spiritual significance that the attackers on October 7 considered the transport of red heifers to Israel as a cause for war.
Those who oppose this understand that it has great significance because it enables the consecration of priests and the altar. Without a red heifer, there are no ashes, and it is impossible to sanctify the people of Israel according to God’s law.
Currently evil still rules the world. There will be a Millennial Kingdom, during which there will still be evil among humanity, but it will no longer be in a dominant position. When Jesus entered the Temple in Jerusalem, He overturned the tables of the money changers and merchants, saying that they had turned the house of prayer into a den of thieves. When entering the Temple, it was necessary to purchase a sacrifice, but not in the place where prayer took place. To enter the presence of the Lord, a sacrifice must be offered. The congregation and individual believers must also be a “house of prayer.”
It is an important message for us that we can only expect deliverance from the Lord, and therefore, we must place our trust in Him. He is the one who can lift us up and prepare good things for those who love Him.
Yet, more and more Christians are seeking natural solutions to their problems. However, we must understand that without God’s grace, we are nothing, and only with Him can we be victorious. We bear a great responsibility in whether we hinder people’s salvation like the dove sellers, or we help it in God’s house.
God is a good Father who desires His children to be well. This is a two-sided matter because it also requires the obedience of His children.
Even in earthly life, it becomes evident that this is the way to live, and indeed, it is the only worthwhile way to live! The essence of the Palm Sunday message is to await the Savior and pray. This means staying in constant connection with God. Most conflicts arise over earthly matters, similar to those involving the money changers’ tables. We must cast out these quarrels and come to worship in this manner.
This year, Palm Sunday and the festival of Purim coincide. Purim is not one of the Lord’s seven feasts, but it is a biblical celebration, although only the Jews are required to observe it. During this time, the entire Book of Esther is read. In it, we read that Mordecai, Esther, and the Jews living in Susa fasted and prayed to be delivered from their enemies.
Haman’s plan aimed to exterminate the Jews, and he could have been an instrument of Satan, whose goal remains the same today. Queen Esther’s plea, shouted by people on Palm Sunday, was for deliverance from persecution and danger for her people. Qeen Esther’s plea was also what the people shouted on Palm Sunday: Save us!
This feast also conveys the message that ultimately God’s people will find rest from their enemies and their bitterness will turn into joy. The reason for joy is that the Messiah is the Redeemer.
Repentance is the path to deliverance; therefore, we must renew our relationship with God. As a result, the voices of gladness and joy will be heard in the tents of the righteous.
The referenced scriptures:
- Matthew 21:1-17
- Esther 9:20-28, 4:1-17, 5:1-3
- Psalms 118:1-29
Magyarra fordította: Heibl Eszter
Eredeti cikk: Hrabovszki György