Save Us

 Today we start worship with:

John 12:13

So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

This verse, written in Greek, contains the spontaneous shout in Hebrew from the crowd, "Hosanna" (hōsanna).  

That, in turn, comes from two words, "save" (yāša) and "we pray" nā'.

It is a short, submissive, respectful prayer.  Another example would be when Moses asked God:

Exodus 33:18

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”

Amen, may it be so. 

No Backup Plan

 As we worship this morning we are directed to:

Psalm 62:5-7

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

    for my hope is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my salvation and my glory;

    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Two sets of words jump out of this passage that indicate a very personal and exclusive relationship.

If I were to highlight the word "my", it would be so distracting the rest of the passage would be obscured.  That is a very personal psalm.

Then twice the exclusive nature of the relationship is called out.

Today, we have friends (plural), second homes (plural), second cars (plural), multiple TVs (plural), bathrooms, . . . OSHA and AARP articles have taught to climb a ladder only moving one hand or foot at a time.  We have 401Ks and IRAs . . . 

We mitigate risk.

Our faith, however, rests solely on God.  We do not need a backup plan.

Our Servant

 This morning we start worship with:

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Out of this verse leaps the word "every".  What Jesus has done is of such a degree that He has been exalted to such a place that everyone, without exclusion will confess that Jesus is Lord.

Let's peek back to what He did:

Philippians 2:6-7

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Jesus emptied (kenoō) himself.  He took off the crown, that was rightfully His, and stepped down to become a servant.

Yes, we know that Jesus became a servant of the Most High God, but that is too lofty a picture.  I have chatted with the executive assistant of the CEO of Wells Fargo.  That is not the picture that this passage wants to convey.  Let's recall the Upper Room . . .

John 13:5

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Jesus emptied himself and became our servant.

With that in mind, let's take one more peek back as to why Paul would want to bring our focus so low.

Philippians 2:4-5

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus.

We are to follow His example and set aside our rights and privileges to become each other's servant.

Boast!

 This morning we are called to worship with:

Galatians 6:14-15

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Here the word "boast" (kauchaomai) is used in contrast to the shame of the cross.  

When playing in a school yard, if one has ever experienced a child getting stuck, the teacher must come quickly to their aid, because of the torment that is instantly unleashed by their classmates.

In the 1700s and the 1800s, the shame of being punished by being placed in stocks was sufficient to prevent many crimes.

The horrific death on a Roman cross was preceded by days of torment, not by soldiers, but by people.  Soldiers were present to prevent people from not only giving aid to the convicted, but also to prevent such heinous acts that would shorten the duration of the crucification.

Not one, but two crucification occur in this verse.  The first is of the world and the second is of Paul, himself.  When the world is crucified, its authority over Paul is ended.  He is internally freed to enjoy the blessing of his salvation, in which he now boast.  That while, Paul's own crucifixion is ongoing, and he continues to receive what torment they would devise.