A couple of weeks ago our eldest, Emily, moved back to Ontario after living and working in Yukon for two years. I am so thrilled to have her “home”! It feels like my heart is finally back in my chest.

When we went to the airport to pick her up I was giddy with excitement. But I was not alone. At the airport, there were other people picking up loved ones. Some were decked out with balloons and flowers, which had me feeling outdone. Regardless, as each moment passed the more excited I got. Emily was coming!!

On Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday with the waving of palm branches and singing “Hosanna”. I can’t help but think of the crowd of people that gathered on the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem (check it out). This crowd gathered not see a bunch of different people but to see one person, and that one person was Jesus. The Messiah!

Imagine if you were there in Jerusalem those many years ago. The Passover was being celebrated, a celebration of thankfulness to God for bringing God’s people out of Egyptian captivity. So Jerusalem was an incredibly busy place with people filling the streets. It was also a time, however, when the Israelites were under oppression from the Roman government and they were anxiously waiting for God to send them a deliverer, another Moses or David.

As Jesus entered into the city the people began to cry “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest”. They had heard of Jesus’ great wisdom and miracles. Others were there when He had fed the five thousand with only a few fishes and loaves of bread. This must be the man who would save them!

The crowds took the cloaks off their backs and spread them on the road. They waved branches, cheering “Hosanna, in the highest”. Their shout of “Hosanna” was a shout of “Save us”.

But as we know, Jesus did not come to save them from their political oppression. He came to rescue them from their sins.

As we enter into the Easter story this week, know that this man of power and presence – Jesus the Christ – came not only for those in the crowed streets of Jerusalem, but He came for you and for me.

Jesus came to rescue us from our sins. As we sing “Hosanna in the highest” we, like the crowd in Jerusalem, are singing “Save us”. However, unlike the crowd that gathered that day, we have the assurance that when we surrender and commit our lives to the king, Jesus will save us! Praise be to God.

Hosanna!

We invite you to take part in all the Easter services and activities at Amberlea:

Special Maundy Thursday Messy Church, 6 p.m. For all ages… dinner provided.
Good Friday service, 11 a.m.
Easter Breakfast, 9:30 a.m.
Easter Worship Service, 11 a.m.

Take in the richness of this season.