Good morning:
As my wife and I slowly made our way toward the back of a cramped plane, we glanced longingly at the seats in first class. Wide and comfortable, with legroom to spare, those seats held the promise of comfort and relaxation. If we had been offered the opportunity to sit there at no extra charge, we would have said yes in a heartbeat. Who wouldn’t? We like privileges and “extras” whenever we can have them, whether it’s at the airport or at work or in the family. What possible reason could there be to decline them?
Yet that is exactly what Jesus did. He is God-in-Person, who therefore deserves all honor and glory from all creation. He not only deserved a first class seat, He had every right to His own private jet. All the privileges this world can offer would still be too little to properly honor the King of kings. That is what makes Jesus’ life and ministry on earth so shocking. He didn’t demand the best of the best. He didn’t insist on living in a palace where servants would carry out His every wish. Instead, His birth of the virgin Mary could not have been more humble. During His ministry He didn’t have a home to call His own. “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matt. 8:20).
Why such humility on Jesus’ part? “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). It was the only way we could be saved from eternal death in hell. Jesus humbled Himself under God’s law in our place. He perfectly obeyed in every circumstance where we have sinned. He humbled Himself so completely that on the cross He suffered the torments we deserved. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).
In divine love, Jesus humbled Himself for our sakes, even though it would cost Him dearly. In love for Him, we want to model His humility in our lives. Tomorrow in our sermon text we will hear Paul say, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8).
Today, rather than automatically looking for “first class,” ponder how our Savior willingly set aside His prerogatives and rights for us, that we might receive forgiveness and eternal life. Then, what better way to express our thanks than to follow Him in humble service toward those around us?
Yours in Christ,
Pastor
Palm Sunday services are at the usual 8:00 and 10:45 a.m. times. We will open with the procession with palms. The Lord’s Supper will also be celebrated. The Sunday school will sing in first service.
The activity committee will meet in the kindergarten room at 9:20 a.m.
Sunday school is at 9:30 and adult Bible class at 9:45 a.m.
The public school confirmation class meets at 12:15 p.m.
