Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

COVID-19 Palm Sunday

 

Palm Sunday - Matthew 21:1-11

It’s April 5th, 2020, or we could call this COVID-19 Palm Sunday. It will be fascinating to see what the history books write about this current pandemic. We already read articles, writings, and option pieces about all the failures that have to lead us here, the mishaps and finger-pointing. Honestly, it’s currently a bit challenging to dig through it all and find the truth in the midst of the messaging. With this in mind, and the situation all around us, and the pandemic impacting the entire world, this shapes our view and thinking of Palm Sunday, and I find this very interesting. Let’s look at the story and message of Palm Sunday with this context in mind. 

“The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Crowds gather in Jerusalem for the entrance of a king who would save and free the people from oppression. The streets were full, a celebration was happening, and palm branches were being waived and laced the streets. Palm branches because this was a symbol of victory, triumph, and eternal peace. The new king was arriving, and freedom was here. 

But here was the problem. Jesus rode in on a donkey, meek, and mild, and the freedom the people in Jerusalem were seeking wasn't the freedom and message Jesus was bringing. This is a crucial principle I am lifting out right now; God’s purpose rarely looks like man's purpose; what we are seeking and asking for typically isn't the answer God gives. 

This rings true to me amid COVID-19, the hope so many are looking for with economic stability, and peace from worldly security continually are letting us down. Our confidence and security can only come in Jesus Christ alone; everything else will let us down. I have personally been struggling the past few days navigating what I have come to realize is grief. I am grieving the loss of what our lives looked like, and what normal for my family and me once was. This grief has sent me on many emotional roller coasters that it’s honestly difficult to discuss and process out loud. I have failed miserably communicating about this with Robin, and struggle with the emotional expression of the feelings. But in the midst of it, I am fighting hard to maintain my hope in the only thing that can honestly offer hope, that is, Jesus Christ.

Palm Sunday for me and possibly many others might just be the message we need. God has a plan and purpose, and it is beautiful and perfect; however, it doesn’t look like ours. The reality all around us right now, our situation and circumstances are not what we imagined Palm Sunday would be just a few weeks or months ago. Churches are closed, millions, if not billions, are fearful and locked in their homes across the globe. We are grieving the loss of normal and how things used to be. I believe we have a choice to make, a mindset a symbol of victory, triumph, and eternal peace to believe in. We can have a fixed or scarcity mindset that has us focusing on our losses, our fears, and the ultimate reality things will never be the same, and that is bad. Or we can have a growth or abundance mindset, the mindset as Christ Jesus.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:” - ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I believe it is ok to grieve the loss of what we once called normal, grieving the loss of our lives as they were. This is to be human and normal and real. And at the same time, we are grieving we can wrap ourselves in the hope of Jesus Christ, enter his mindset and look to the things above and not here, or in things of this world. 

“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” - ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The people in Jerusalem were looking for a king to free them from persecution, political oppression, and strife. Jesus came to accomplish so much more; Jesus came to give them eternal life, spiritual freedom, and abundance beyond their comprehension. Today on COVID-19 Palm Sunday what is it we are looking for, what is it we are seeking and asking? Let’s not waste this opportunity to draw closer to Jesus, draw closer to our friends and family, and find the right mindset of Christ in the midst of it all. We absolutely can and will come out of this situation stronger, better, and more like Jesus if we set our hearts and minds on the things of God. 

Today I am choosing hope, and I am choosing freedom. I am choosing Jesus. Amen.

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch