HOSANNA

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

PALM SUNDAY MESSAGE

5^TH APRIL, 2020.

Theme: HOSANNA

Text: MATHEW 21:9, CF PSALM 118:25

“Then the multitude who were before and those who followed cried out, saying: Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 

“Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.”

Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-9) It is the Sunday before Easter, when palm branches were placed in Jesus’ path as he rode on a colt to Jerusalem, before his arrest on Holy Thursday and his crucifixion on Good Friday. It therefore marks the beginning of Holy Week, which is the final week of lent also called the Passion Week. It is a day of special call for divine salvation from people who have witnessed Jesus Christ when he was performing miracles, especially, the Jews and Gentiles who were present at Bethany where he had raised Lazarus from the dead.

I therefore welcome you all to the last week of lent in the year 2020. May our journey with Christ to Golgotha this year bring deliverance to Nigerians and the people of Osun State in particular from the all forms of pandemic, power and consequences of sin and from the tight fist of the devil.

Þ    It is quite unfortunate that Christians all over Nigeria have to celebrate this Palm Sunday indoor with the doors of our local church buildings locked for the fear of Coronavirus aka CONVID-19. What then can we say in a time like this?

Þ    I think it is most appropriate to raise our voices at our various homes as the main body or church of Christ, and cry: “HOSANNA” to the Son of David like men and women of old did. Hence, the theme of our Palm Sunday is “HOSANNA” (Matt. 21:9), meaning “SAVE NOW” (Psalm 118:25)

Þ    Psalm 118 can be referred to as Messianic Song. The song, which comes between the shortest (Ps. 117) and the longest (Ps. 119) Psalms, is probably written for the dedication of the restored walls and gates of Jerusalem during the feast of Tabernacles in 444BC, during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. The rebuilding project which took about 52days witnessed ridicule and series of attack from the enemies of the Jews who later become astounded at its completion. (Ps. 118:10-14 cf. Neh. 2:19-20; 4:1-9 and Ps. 118:15-16, 23-24 cf. Neh. 6:15-16). This Psalm was written for public worship to show the joy of the Israelites when they beheld what the Lord had done. But this Psalm is still relevant to our situation in Nigeria today as it gives us practical instructions to follow during the period of our dismay for total deliverance. The four (4) practical instructions are:

 

1)   Believers are to give thanks to the Lord at all times (Ps. 118:1-4). The Psalm begins and ends with thanksgiving (Ps. 118:1-4; 28-29). According to the Psalmist, human situation may change many times, but God’s merciful lovingkindness endures forever. Like the children of Israel, Christians today have every spiritual blessing in Jesus Christ who is YES to all God’s promises (IICor 1:19-20; Eph. 1:3), and certainly we ought to praise his name at all times; even in the face of the outbreak of Coronavirus. God’s praise must surely be in our mouths.

 

2)   We have to trust the Lord in every crisis (Ps. 118:5-14). “The Lord” is mentioned in every verse of this paragraph because he was the one who protected Israel from their enemies and enabled them to complete the rebuilding project of the wall of Jerusalem, even when things became difficult as a result of the attack of enemies within and without. The people learned to trust, not in kings, governors and princes, but in the Lord alone (Ps. 118:8-9). They also learned that, though the enemy might attack them like bees, the Lord would give them victory (Ps. 118:10-12). We must note this in our trying periods and whenever the devil seeks to destroy us, we must be courageous, and know that our faith in Jesus Christ will carry us through to victory (Heb. 13:6). God’s people must learn to trust him in every crisis of Life, even at this time of Coronavirus attack on the world wide. “Through the Love of God our Saviour, all, will be well… (MHB 525) should be our song.”

 

3)   Learn to glorify the Lord after every victory (Ps. 118:15-21). When the wall was dedicated, the joyful shouts of the people were heard afar off. (Neh. 2:47), and the Psalmist mention this in verse 15 and 16 (Lev. 23:33-44), Though Israel was chastened because of her sin, but she did not die (Ps. 118:17-18). God will not allow COVID-19 or any pandemic to destroy us, He will save us in his mercy (Ps. 91:1-8). My dear people of God, one of the best ways to seal God’s blessing to our hearts and make sure he gets the glory is to publicly praise him and keep on praising him. Hence at our various homes, let us be joyful and glorify God because we are sure of victory over sin, the Devil and current pandemic.

 

4)   Know for sure that Saviour is in every experience (Ps. 118:22-29), Remember John 1:11, the rejected stone which later became the Chief cornerstone points to the Messiah Jesus Christ our Saviour. Peter made it clear in Acts 4:11 that the Jewish leaders had rejected their Messiah, the Stone, and he became to them a stone of stumbling (Isa. 28:16; Rom 9:32-33), but in his death, resurrection and ascension, Jesus Christ has become the Chief cornerstone of the Church, binding the Jews and Gentiles together in one sanctuary (Eph. 2:19-22). Fathers and Mothers, brothers and sisters in Christ, do you know that the phrase in Psalm 118 verse 25 “SAVE NOW” is the Hebrew word “HOSANNA” which the people shouted joyfully when Jesus rode into Jerusalem in Matt. 21:9, Mk. 11:9-10 and note the words which followed; “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Jesus Christ is thus seen in this Psalm 118 as the only Saviour of the world. He is the only one who can save the world and all of us from this pandemic called Coronavirus. Let us with faith in our hearts call on him this Palm Sunday as we cry together HOSANNA to the Son of David, and we shall be saved (Ps. 34:6-8).

His triumphal entry (Ps. 118:25-26), his rejection (Ps. 118:27), his death and resurrection (Ps. 118:17), and his exaltation as God’s chosen stone (Ps. 118:22-23; Phil. 2:9-11), are all pointing to his power to save. Today therefore is the day the Lord has made for us to rejoice in hope and fear no more, because he has atoned for our sin and paid the price once and for all. Let us continue to wait by faith for his second coming as the King and Judge of the Whole World. Happy Palm Sunday to you.

 

Shalom!

 

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

Chairman OS-CAN.