Five days prior to Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross, the four Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) proclaimed Christ riding in triumph into Jerusalem. (See Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, John 12:12-16.) The Passover was observed on the fourteenth day of the month, and this was the tenth; on which day the law appointed that the paschal lamb should be taken up (Exodus 12:3), and set apart for that service; on that day therefore Christ our Passover, who was crucified for us, for He was publicly shown.
As Jesus rode a borrowed ass and her colt into Jerusalem, we find that it was the very poor and the ordinary that walked before and after Him. Though there were no heralds at arms provided, no trumpets sounded before Him, no chariots of state, these folk laid down their garments and palm branches in front of Him – to honor Jesus as Christ the King. The multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” (Note: Hosanna signified, “Save now, we beseech thee“; referring to Psalm 118:25-26, “Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.” As Jesus was come into Jerusalem, all the city as moved, saying, “Who is this?” The multitude said, “This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”
Five days later, Jesus the Lamb of God was crucified on the cross of Calvary to pay our sin debt.
2 Corinthians 5:21 states,
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Jesus willingly laid down His life – denying Himself in perfect obedience unto His Heavenly Father – even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:5-8 states,
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, have you willingly laid down your life as a lamb unto the Lord – denying yourself unto obedience unto Christ?
Romans 8:36 proclaims,
“As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Although we may be counted as sheep for the slaughter, many of us are only willing to “lay down our garments and palm branches” before Christ, and not we ourselves. In other words, we are often willing to share whatever we have with others, even if it means some sacrifice – however, if we are to truly lay down our lives unto the Lord, we must do so through full devotion of voluntary surrender of our lives unto the Lord. Our lives must exemplify the words found in Galatians 2:20,
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Are you willing to deny self, take up your cross of self-sacrifice and follow Jesus? If you are, then the following verses must be evident in your life.
Romans 12:1-2,
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Luke 9:23,
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
