Palm Sunday
SCRIPTURE
Zechariah 9:9
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Created by God and for God, the phrase “I resign myself to thee” demonstrates an initial submission to God, much like the palms laid down on the road symbolized people submitting themselves to Him. The following lines, “till I betray’d myself” and “Why doth he steal, nay ravish, that’s Thy right?” raise the question of why humans are inclined to corrupt the goodness placed within them. Donne uses harsh language such as “steal,” “ravish,” and “despair” to emphasize the destructive nature of sin. This language creates cacophony, a literary device that uses harsh, jarring sounds to showcase the evil nature of sin.
The line “A temple of Thy Spirit divine” implies that God’s Spirit dwells within us, making our bodies a sacred temple. However, when the speaker says “I shall soon despair,” he communicates his worry that after living in sin for so long, he may stray too far from God and be unable to live a righteous life. The poem’s desperate tone captures the speaker’s anxiety about being spiritually “ravished” by Satan. In the final line, Donne establishes a duality between good and evil, implying that Satan is reluctant to release the speaker’s soul, which amplifies the struggle between sin and divine salvation for our spirit.
Artwork Interpretation:
In this painting, Jesus is depicted wearing a royal blue robe as He enters Jerusalem riding atop a donkey. He is displayed calm and upright, highlighting His authority as he enters the town. The followers of Christ and the sinners surrounding Him are dressed in lighter colors such as white, pink, and orange, which draws the viewer’s attention toward Jesus and His dark blue garment. Palm branches are placed beneath the donkey’s hooves, symbolizing victory and triumph as He enters Jerusalem. The individuals positioned behind Jesus on the left side of the painting have yellow circles, or halos, encircling their heads as they follow Him. These halos suggest that they have been saved and now physically and spiritually follow Christ. Those who have not yet encountered Christ stand before Him, waiting to be transformed.
Biography:
Grace and Emilie, both seniors in Mrs. Cooney’s Honors English class, share an enthusiasm for music production, specifically singing and piano. In addition to their musical passion, they competed in long-distance track and field events last year.
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
DEVOTION
Amidst warring tribes, the nation of Israel found itself surrounded by Pagan culture. Zechariah 9 details God’s plan and judgment on those tribes. As God explains impending judgment, He promises the nation of Israel that He is coming to save them and make all things right!
Israel had awaited a savior since the time of the prophets and Zechariah, right up until their oppression by the Romans. Israel expects that a warrior will come riding in, perhaps on a war colt, to save the people from the nation of Rome. Yet, Christ chooses to fulfill the prophecy detailed in the Old Testament in a different manner. The King of Kings came riding into Jerusalem in a humble manner, a manner befitting a peasant, not a king. Christ humbled Himself to save us. Yes, this was the triumphant entry, but possibly not in the way that many would think. Christ’s arrival wasn't ostentatious by any means. Christ’s humility in His entry to Jerusalem ought to guide our hearts toward humility.
The crowd that awaited Him at Jerusalem had the only proper response to meeting their Savior face to face; they laid down their palms and their cloaks on the ground to pave a path for the King on a donkey. The people yelled “Hosanna in the highest” as he entered. Hosana is a word that means “come and save us, save us now.” The people of Israel are laying down their sacrifices and openly inviting Christ to save them. More than that, they are begging Him to save them from their oppressors.
The crowd was willing to sacrifice what they had on their bodies for God's purposes. What in your life can you lay down to the king and submit to Him? What have you not laid down to Him? What can you surrender as an outward expression of allowing God into your life and into your heart?
Amidst warring tribes, the nation of Israel found itself surrounded by Pagan culture. Zechariah 9 details God’s plan and judgment on those tribes. As God explains impending judgment, He promises the nation of Israel that He is coming to save them and make all things right!
Israel had awaited a savior since the time of the prophets and Zechariah, right up until their oppression by the Romans. Israel expects that a warrior will come riding in, perhaps on a war colt, to save the people from the nation of Rome. Yet, Christ chooses to fulfill the prophecy detailed in the Old Testament in a different manner. The King of Kings came riding into Jerusalem in a humble manner, a manner befitting a peasant, not a king. Christ humbled Himself to save us. Yes, this was the triumphant entry, but possibly not in the way that many would think. Christ’s arrival wasn't ostentatious by any means. Christ’s humility in His entry to Jerusalem ought to guide our hearts toward humility.
The crowd that awaited Him at Jerusalem had the only proper response to meeting their Savior face to face; they laid down their palms and their cloaks on the ground to pave a path for the King on a donkey. The people yelled “Hosanna in the highest” as he entered. Hosana is a word that means “come and save us, save us now.” The people of Israel are laying down their sacrifices and openly inviting Christ to save them. More than that, they are begging Him to save them from their oppressors.
The crowd was willing to sacrifice what they had on their bodies for God's purposes. What in your life can you lay down to the king and submit to Him? What have you not laid down to Him? What can you surrender as an outward expression of allowing God into your life and into your heart?
Prayer:
Dear God,
I pray that as we think of your entry to Jerusalem, we would be awestruck by your humility. I pray that the readers of this devotion would have their hearts and minds opened by you so that they would be affected by your spirit and your word. We also pray that you would lead us to a place of submission so that we would be willing to offer all our cares, anxieties, and praises to you, just as the crowds did as Jesus entered Jerusalem. Thank you for revealing yourself to us through your word and your heart towards all people. In your name we pray, Amen.
MUSIC
Mass in B Minor "Sanctus" by Johann Sebastian Bach
Interpretation:
Like many pieces composed in the Baroque era, Bach's Mass in B Minor, Sanctus, was written for liturgical purposes, specifically for the Christmas Eve service. Bach’s Sanctus portion of this mass was strategically composed in the key of B minor. The key of B minor is unique because it allows the piece to convey great emotion and build to a grand finale, similar to Christ’s triumphant entry. Christ's ‘Sanctus’ is Latin for “holy.” Just as the crowd gathered for Christ's triumphant entry surrendered their palms and cloaks as a way to praise Him, the words of this song were also written in praise and urged congregants to directly praise God in surrender. The lyrics “holy, holy, holy” reflect a similar attitude of praise as the crowd laying down their palms in surrender.
POETRY
Interpretation: Dear God,
I pray that as we think of your entry to Jerusalem, we would be awestruck by your humility. I pray that the readers of this devotion would have their hearts and minds opened by you so that they would be affected by your spirit and your word. We also pray that you would lead us to a place of submission so that we would be willing to offer all our cares, anxieties, and praises to you, just as the crowds did as Jesus entered Jerusalem. Thank you for revealing yourself to us through your word and your heart towards all people. In your name we pray, Amen.
MUSIC
Mass in B Minor "Sanctus" by Johann Sebastian Bach
Interpretation:
Like many pieces composed in the Baroque era, Bach's Mass in B Minor, Sanctus, was written for liturgical purposes, specifically for the Christmas Eve service. Bach’s Sanctus portion of this mass was strategically composed in the key of B minor. The key of B minor is unique because it allows the piece to convey great emotion and build to a grand finale, similar to Christ’s triumphant entry. Christ's ‘Sanctus’ is Latin for “holy.” Just as the crowd gathered for Christ's triumphant entry surrendered their palms and cloaks as a way to praise Him, the words of this song were also written in praise and urged congregants to directly praise God in surrender. The lyrics “holy, holy, holy” reflect a similar attitude of praise as the crowd laying down their palms in surrender.
POETRY
As Due by Many Titles I Resign (Holy Sonnet II) by John Donne
As due by many titles I resign
Myself to thee, O God. First I was made
By Thee; and for Thee, and when I was decay’d
Thy blood bought that, the which before was Thine.
I am Thy son, made with Thyself to shine,
Thy servant, whose pains Thou hast still repaid,
Thy sheep, Thine image, and—till I betray’d
Myself—a temple of Thy Spirit divine.
Why doth the devil then usurp on me?
Why doth he steal, nay ravish, that’s Thy right?
Except Thou rise and for Thine own work fight,
O! I shall soon despair, when I shall see
That Thou lovest mankind well, yet wilt not choose me,
And Satan hates me, yet is loth to lose me.
Myself to thee, O God. First I was made
By Thee; and for Thee, and when I was decay’d
Thy blood bought that, the which before was Thine.
I am Thy son, made with Thyself to shine,
Thy servant, whose pains Thou hast still repaid,
Thy sheep, Thine image, and—till I betray’d
Myself—a temple of Thy Spirit divine.
Why doth the devil then usurp on me?
Why doth he steal, nay ravish, that’s Thy right?
Except Thou rise and for Thine own work fight,
O! I shall soon despair, when I shall see
That Thou lovest mankind well, yet wilt not choose me,
And Satan hates me, yet is loth to lose me.
Created by God and for God, the phrase “I resign myself to thee” demonstrates an initial submission to God, much like the palms laid down on the road symbolized people submitting themselves to Him. The following lines, “till I betray’d myself” and “Why doth he steal, nay ravish, that’s Thy right?” raise the question of why humans are inclined to corrupt the goodness placed within them. Donne uses harsh language such as “steal,” “ravish,” and “despair” to emphasize the destructive nature of sin. This language creates cacophony, a literary device that uses harsh, jarring sounds to showcase the evil nature of sin.
The line “A temple of Thy Spirit divine” implies that God’s Spirit dwells within us, making our bodies a sacred temple. However, when the speaker says “I shall soon despair,” he communicates his worry that after living in sin for so long, he may stray too far from God and be unable to live a righteous life. The poem’s desperate tone captures the speaker’s anxiety about being spiritually “ravished” by Satan. In the final line, Donne establishes a duality between good and evil, implying that Satan is reluctant to release the speaker’s soul, which amplifies the struggle between sin and divine salvation for our spirit.
Artwork Interpretation:
In this painting, Jesus is depicted wearing a royal blue robe as He enters Jerusalem riding atop a donkey. He is displayed calm and upright, highlighting His authority as he enters the town. The followers of Christ and the sinners surrounding Him are dressed in lighter colors such as white, pink, and orange, which draws the viewer’s attention toward Jesus and His dark blue garment. Palm branches are placed beneath the donkey’s hooves, symbolizing victory and triumph as He enters Jerusalem. The individuals positioned behind Jesus on the left side of the painting have yellow circles, or halos, encircling their heads as they follow Him. These halos suggest that they have been saved and now physically and spiritually follow Christ. Those who have not yet encountered Christ stand before Him, waiting to be transformed.
Biography:
Grace and Emilie, both seniors in Mrs. Cooney’s Honors English class, share an enthusiasm for music production, specifically singing and piano. In addition to their musical passion, they competed in long-distance track and field events last year.
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