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Hosanna! Hosanna!
Congregation Worship Service: Palm Sunday
EBCC Delhi, Dwarka
Sunday, 24th March 2013
Matthew 21:9 “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”
The home-coming of the Lord to Jerusalem, known to us as Palm Sunday and celebrated by His believers throughout the world every year is upon us again. The service began with the Pastor welcoming the congregation with Zechariah 9:9. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is just and having salvation; lowly and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” He then led them in mass prayer, offering themselves up to God on this day, so that their heart and not only their tongue, cries out, “Hosanna! Hosanna!”, to the Lord. As the prayers concluded, the Worship Team led them in songs of praise singing: “Van a Pa aw”, “Na thupina gen vual hilou”, “Aw pausing tampi’n”, “Sa in ka phat ding”.
The offerings were collected by the ushers while the songs were sung and Upa Damsawmthang said the offertory prayer thanking the Lord for all His blessings, that we could give some back to Him and that it be used justly for His name and His Ministry.
The Baptist Children’s Department delighted the congregation by making a joyful procession round the church as they shouted and waived their palm leaves in the air, “Hosanna!”. The congregation joined in as they made their way inside the church and the walls of the Church resounded with a triumphant, “Hosanna!”. The children led by their dedicated Sunday School teachers sang, “Hosanna! Hosanna!”. It gives the heart such joy to see children sing, for they are God’s delight as Jesus says in Matthew 19:14. “Suffer little children and forbid them not, to come unto m: for such is the kingdom of Heaven”. The Pastor made a dedicatory prayer for the children’s house T-shirt made by the BCD. The service then proceeded with a choir by the Baptist Youth Department, BYF singing, “Hosanna! Tungnungpen ah!”.
The Pastor began his sermon with a prayer to God thanking him for yet another blessed Palm Sunday. He read from the book of Matthew 21:1-11. He explained the meaning of Hosanna as originating from the Hebrew word Hoshya-na meaning save us. It is originally a plea for help which evolved Hosan-na In the New Testament which in Greek has more positive connotation as a symbolic battle-cry of victory. It is used in this context because it celebrates the home-coming of Jesus into Jerusalem to fulfill God’s eternal plan as it says in Matthew 21:4 “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet..” Therefore, we as believers must also be ready to understand and carry out God’s plan for us as He unfolds it to us. There is great danger in failing to see and to rebel against God’s design. As the disciples heeded the instruction Jesus gave them and as the owner of the foal did not question His purpose, likewise, must our part be in contributing to God’s design.
The Pastor then explained the attributes of the animal Jesus had chosen, the ass, which reflected His own gentleness and humility and the quality He requires of us. Arrogance cannot stand before the Lord, He requires a humble and submissive heart which places Him above all. The gesture of the people of Jerusalem in spreading leaves and their shawls as Jesus rode past is symbolic of their submission. The people were awestruck at the sight of Jesus and thought of Him to be a great prophet, but He was more than that. Were He a prophet, he need not have borne the burden of the cross but since He was the Son of God, he did and thus, fulfilled God’s plan of salvation.
“Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Jesus came in the name of the Lord to carry out God’s design; with a gentle and submissive heart, as the King of peace wielding the weapon, not of armies but of Love, not to pass judgements or decree punishments but as a refuge and help, to walk His path with courage and make an earnest appeal to mankind with Love.
Jesus was crucified five days from the day He entered Jerusalem. He was found guilty and crucified on the cross, but death could not hold the Son of God and he rose, resurrected. A mighty ruler rides a lowly ass when he offers a truce, it is a symbol of peace, but Jesus is the King of peace himself. “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!”
The pastor concludes his sermon with a prayer thanking the Jesus for His unbounded love and for being our Salvation and closes the service with a benediction.
#The coming Friday, March 29th, 2013 is Good Friday. Worship service will be held at the Church at 11a.m. There will be Holy Communion Service and the Pastor extends His invitation to the congregation to partake of the same.
By- Kimte Guite
Media Team
