Day 1: ‘Save Us’

Read: Matthew 1:1-11

On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time during His earthly ministry. The stage was set for the triumphal entry! The way we would all expect a the King of Kings to arrive. City roads and alleyways were overwhelmed as multitudes awaited the arrival of Jesus, the Christ. The ground was adorned with palm branches and the streets echoed with singing: Hosanna! Hosanna to the Son of David!

Hosanna means: save us or rescue us. However, as expectant as those songs may have been, they were not sung in anticipation for the type of kingship Jesus was entering. The people wanted a king who would overthrow the current government and save them from political oppression. Jesus came to accomplish much more: He came to give us eternal life and spiritual freedom.

As many of us enter in to this Holy week we may also be in the same boat. Ready for Jesus to overthrow powers and principalities. To step in to rescue us all. And we know he will, EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue will confess He is Lord. But that is not the only thing he wants to do. He wants to bring true freedom.

We see it in movies, hear it in songs, see it on the news. Everyone is looking for a hero, a saviour. But some have forgotten or may not know how close he actually is. The reality is, whether you have been a Christian for 5 minutes or 50 years, we are ALL in desperate need of a Saviour.

Unlike the Israelites’ expectations, our salvation does not come through the government. Our salvation does not come through political policy, humanitarian deeds, or education. While these things are powerful, our desperate need is spiritual. Our faults, shortcomings, and inability to do only good all of the time reveals our deep need for rescuing.

Despite our best attempts, humanity is crying out for redemption.

It doesn’t end with the awareness of our need, however. God, our loving Father, knew that even on our best days we would never achieve perfection. In light of that knowledge, He sent His Son, Jesus, to each of us.

He came into your Jerusalem, took your sin upon Himself and, and as we’ll recount together this week, paid the penalty of sin for you.

Yes, you.

Maybe you weren't expecting your freedom to come through Jesus. Maybe you expected something more like Superman in a perfect outfit, car, all the cool gadgets. Then here comes Jesus on a donkey. Not flashy, not complicated but the Saviour we all need. Maybe you were expecting it to come through your own resolve, self-help, counseling, or pills. Maybe you thought your freedom could be achieved through the right relationships, success, or accumulation of stuff. Nothing can achieve in your life what Jesus died to give you. He can make you fully alive: free from guilt, shame, bondage, and regret.

If you’re reading this, and you’ve never accepted the free gift of God’s grace through Jesus, we want to invite you to pray a simple prayer. Simply say this: Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I know that you are the Saviour. I ask You to forgive all my sins and remove all my shame. I invite You to come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. And I’ll follow You, all my days, from this day forward. In Jesus’ name, Amen.