棕树主日

奉主名来的君王

——约翰福音十二章十三节

手拿棕树枝，高呼“和散那”，耶路撒冷的百姓倾城而出，迎接那奉主名而来的君王。但这位君王没有驾着战车而来，没有骑着骏马而来，他的坐骑只是一匹驴驹。他高贵，却又谦卑；他尊荣，却又平凡。他是王，却无帝王的威风；他是主，却无人主的盛气。

他是主，却像奴仆伺候自己的门徒；他是王，却没有登上王宫的宝座。他的“宝座”设于各各他山，他作王的称号高悬于十架之上。这就是万口称颂、万膝跪拜的万主之主，万王之王；他的威严与尊贵，蕴藏于卑微与屈辱之中；他舍己，忍受父的离弃，却以他的软弱吸引并征服万人！

Palm Sunday

John 12:13

The King who comes in the name of the Lord

Palm branches in hand, shouting “Hosanna!” the people of Jerusalem surge out of the city to meet the king who comes in the name of the Lord. But this king does not arrive in a war chariot, nor on a prancing stallion. He is mounted on a lowly ass. He is mighty, but humble too; he is glorious and yet ordinary. He is a king without a kingdom, a lord without the airs of a Lord.

He is Lord, but he serves his disciples as a servant. He is king, but he has not ascended a throne in a palace. His throne awaits him at Golgotha, and his kingly title hangs on the cross. This is the meaning of the Lord of lords, the King of kings, whose name every tongue shall praise and before whom every knee shall bow. Christ’s majesty and glory are contained within humility and shame. He has given himself up and has borne abandonment by God. Yet in his weakness, he attracts and wins over humankind!