Calvin Synod Herald, 2012 (113. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2012-03-01 / 3-4. szám

4

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

Triumphal Entry

I’ve always liked Palm Sunday. It signifies the beginning of Holy Week. And over the years I have tried to look at that historic entry into Jerusalem from every angle that I can think of. I have considered the people in the crowd (the skeptics, the faithful, and the antagonists); I have looked at the expectations of the people who cheered. I’ve considered Jesus’ tears over Jerusalem. I have looked at the irony or tragedy of the fact that less than weeks following this event, some of these same people were yelling, "crucify, crucify." I am sure, somewhere along the way; I have even looked at the donkey. But this year God showed me something different. This year He showed me that this entry into Jerusalem should not only remind us of what was ... it should also point us to what shall be.

In order to make this point, I was led to Revelation 7. My first response was to run. The book of Revelation can be an intimidating book. Lots of so-called experts are quick to tell us what every symbol means. I don’t think it is that easy. I have struggled with various interpretations. I just got more confused. Then it seemed like the Lord whispered, "Forget the theories . . .just tell them what it says." So that’s what I’ll do.

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. ” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength are to our God forever and ever. Amen! ”

Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes— who are they, and where did they come from? ” 1 answered, “Sir, you know. ” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation: they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger: never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, or any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. ” Revelation, 7: 9-15

Do you see why I call this Triumphal Gathering II? There are Palm branches, cheers, and Jesus is in the center of it all once again. However, there are some differences; the first crowd was a mixture of people the future group will be made up of only believers and the angels.

The first group looked forward to what might be, the second looks at what is, the first group focused on the hope of temporal deliverance, the second group will look at eternal and spiritual deliverance.

I suggest that the reason the second triumphal gathering will be far superior to the first Triumphal Entry can be summarized in three statements.

First, we will understand the Greatness of God and of His Grace toward Us.

Perhaps you have talked about how great it would be to hold your child in your hands the very first time. However, talking about it, and experiencing it are two different things... In the past we have talked to people who have experienced a severe grief. We have been compassionate and sensitive. Nevertheless, when we experience a grief like that ourselves, our tone changes. We become softer; our empathy becomes greater . . . now we understand.

It’s like that with sin and grace. We use the words but we don’t really understand. On that day, we will.

There are two reasons this is so. First, we will see our sin in light of God’s Holiness. At the present time we know that there are things that we do that are wrong. We can measure our lives by the Scriptures and see that we often fail to meet the standard God has set. We love the Lord. We want to please Him. And when we don’t it pains us. But we really do not have any idea of how offensive our sin is to our Holy God. We have not begun to comprehend how far we have fallen from the standard.

You see, there is a part of us that sees the wrong we do and draws comfort from the fact that others do the same thing. We even feel good that we are not as bad as others. But we are missing the point. Other people do not call us to measure our lives; we are called to measure our lives by the Lord.

Heaven will be an eye-opening experience for us. When we see God in His holiness we will realize our true nature. When we see the real greatness of His character we will understand the depth of our need. This was the experience of everyone who encountered God. Isaiah describes it best. . . when he saw God he felt sure he would die. He said, "Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips and serve a people of unclean lips."

Isaiah was known as a righteous and holy man. Yet, when he encountered God he saw the depth of the sin in his life. When we see God there will be no excuses. Comparisons will be futile. We will know that we deserve God’s wrath.

But Secondly, we will also see God’s grace, in light of our sin. When we understand the depth of our need ... we will appreciate His mercy and grace in a way we have not appreciated it before. We are told that these people before the throne were "wearing white robes" ... we are told, "they have washed their robes and made them white by the blood of the Lamb" (v. 14)

On that day, we will realize that we stand before the Lord in Heaven ONLY by the blood of the precious Son of God. We will realize that it is not due to our efforts . . . but to His grace. We will understand that we have received a mercy that is so wonderful that our hearts could never, ever, begin to repay Him. Only then will we realize the price that was paid. Only then will we see what our Savior set aside so He could save us. Only then will we see the ways that God has worked in our lives to draw us to Himself. We will see and be overwhelmed. And so we will spend the rest of eternity in gratitude and worship. Not because we have

to___but because it is the only response. No arrogance, no sense

of superiority, no ranking ourselves against others . . . only worship. And even the angelic host, those that have been a part of this great act of salvation, when they see the multitude of those the Lord has redeemed also cry out: "Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom,