“Week and wounded sinner. Lost and left to die. Oh raise your head for love is passing by. Come to Jesus—come to Jesus. Come to Jesus and live” (Kenneth Cope).
My heart is so full right now. I don’t even know how to put it into words.
Today, April 5th of 2020, on Palm Sunday, I had the opportunity to participate in the Hosanna Shout, run by President Nelson, the Prophet of the world. I shouted Hosanna- God Save Me– along with millions of people around the world.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the history of Easter week, on the Sunday before Jesus Christ was crucified, he entered back into the city of Jerusalem for what would be the last week of his life.
The believers and people who loved Jesus welcomed him in a beautiful, sacred way. They gathered palm fronds, a symbol of victory, triumph and peace. They laid their garments on the ground for Jesus to walk upon as he entered the city. They gave him an entrance fit for a king. Because he is literally our Savior and King. Then they shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21: 9). This they did because they knew that Jesus was the only one who could save them.
The believers knew that Jesus Christ was the prophesied Messiah that was going to deliver them and save them. He may not have delivered them in a literal way, but He did come to deliver them from an unseen enemy, from the guilt of sin, and from the pains of death.
In the same way that they welcomed the Savior during his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, we shouted Hosanna to our Savior, with a white handkerchief, symbolic of the palm fronds, to welcome him in again- for his second coming.
Wow. Just wow!
Let that sink in. We just welcomed Jesus in again! We raised our voice in unity for him to save us!!
In all the history of the world, the Savior ALWAYS came to his people in a time of fear! In ancient Jerusalem, he came when the people were afraid of the Romans; that’s initially who they wanted to be delivered from. He spoke to them and calmed them and taught them. He gave them hope and provided a way for them to have peace. He established His gospel that could save them from sin and from the bands of death.
When Jesus was resurrected and his disciples were distraught and afraid, he visited them to calm and reassure them. He gave them hope that they could continue what he started.
Jesus Christ visited the inhabitants of Ancient America during their time of fear and grief, after experiencing the terrifying signs of his death- earthquakes, fire, thick darkness for 3 days. They were filled with fear, but then He came to them. He calmed their troubled hearts. He spoke peace to their souls and taught them his gospel.
200 years ago this month, when a 14 year old boy was praying in the woods and was seized upon by some unseen force, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Him. They spoke peace to his soul and restored Christ’s true and living Church through this young boy.
Today, when I am living in a world of fear and chaos, He came to me. Not literally but in a very real way. He touched my heart and whispered to my soul that He is here. That He knows me. That He can heal and strengthen me.
He is peace. He is hope. He is love. The Lord Jesus Christ is the master healer and the Savior of the world. That knowledge runs through me like a bolt of lightening. I feel it in every fiber of my being.
Jesus is the Christ. He is here for us in our deepest and darkest struggles. He is the Alpha and Omega. The great I Am. He is the Savior and Redeemer of the whole world. For all the souls that do believe in him. But also to all those who don’t. He is still their Savior and Redeemer!
I want to shout this on the roof tops and tell the whole world and everyone I love!!
I glory in MY Jesus. I glory in MY Savior. I glory In MY God!
“He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’”
Come What May and LOVE it!! 