A Prayer Celebrating the Glory of Palm Sunday
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. Zechariah 9:9-12
Lord Jesus, we’ll exhaust the wonder of this passage, as soon as we drink Niagara Falls dry; as soon as we memorize the names of every star you’ve launched into the heavens; as soon as we finish climbing every Alp in Switzerland, Italy, Germany and France.
On this Palm Sunday morning, we’re overwhelmed with your humility, sovereignty and your generosity. What other king would mount the lowly foal of a donkey to the conquer the warriors and war-horses of darkness? What other king could break the battle bow and the backbone of all warfare by his own brokenness on a cross?
What other king could replace the politics of tyranny with a dominion of peace? What other king would offer his life and death for the redemption and restoration of rebels, fools and idolaters, like us? What other king could possibly transform prisoners of sin, death and “waterless pits” into prisoners of hope?
Jesus, you are that king, none other can be found. Only you can make us eternal prisoners of living hope. Indeed, who is the king of glory? It is you, Lord Jesus, and only you. Who is the king of grace? It is you, Lord Jesus, and only you. Who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords? It is you, Lord Jesus, and only you.
We rejoice greatly today for you have come to us righteous and having salvation, and you’re coming again to finish making all things new. Fill our hearts this Holy Week with your presence. Overwhelm us with your love. May your cross and your crown continue to free us from all other imprisonments that we may live as prisoners of hope and agents of your redemption. So very Amen, we pray, in your glorious and grace-filled name.
(art credit: UNKNOWN; Illustrator of 'Speculum humanae salvationis', Germany (?), c. 1400-1500, from Museum Meermanno Westreenianum, The Hague)
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