Make Easter season about our Savior

Prior to the Triumphant Entry also known as Palm Sunday, There were two major events in Jesus’ life that we need to understand.

First, we have the resurrection of Lazarus and the second was Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. Why are these two events so important for us to focus on? Let’s take them one at a time. The death of Lazarus was a story that many didn’t understand. This friend of Jesus had become sick and died.

Prior to his death, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that your friend Lazarus is sick. Jesus sent back a reply and said the sickness would not end in death. However, Lazarus died. Jesus, instead of coming right away, waited two additional days. He was only a couple of miles away. But, he chose to wait. Picture this: Lazarus dead for 4 days and the people mourning his death with Mary and Martha. Jesus then comes and the repeated phrase in the book of Luke was “if you had only come, our brother would not have died.”

They did not even remember what Jesus told them. They were so caught up in the grief that they failed to remember the promise.

Many of us do the exact same thing. We focus so much on what we have lost instead of what we have been promised by God. This passage said that Jesus wept. He didn’t weep because Lazarus was dead but because the people had failed to realize the power of the promise.

Jesus then sternly speaks and asks for the stone to be removed to which the reply was Lord he surely stinks by now. Jesus commanded the stone be rolled away and then calls out Lazarus come out. Death loosed its grip and Lazarus came out.

Why is this significant? We may find ourselves bound by something that seems like it is going to destroy us. Sin in our life is something that will destroy us. Jesus came to set us free from sin and set us free from death. He is the savior and the resurrection and the life. All we have to do is believe the promise.

Mary anointing Jesus with the expensive perfume is important to us also. The act of anointing in scripture was meant to proclaim the true KING. Anointing was also done as a preparation of burial. The gifts of the Magi in the earlier story of the birth of Jesus that included gold, frankincense, and myrrh, a funeral or anointing perfume for burial, was given a prophetic picture of what was about to come.

When Mary brought in the alabaster jar and broke it and poured it out, she was declaring that Jesus was the TRUE KING. She did this as an act of worship and declaration of Jesus Christ as the true king and Messiah. The use of incense also is symbolic for praise and prayers. The sweet smell goes up before the Lord and he is glorified as the Great and Mighty One.

How does this relate to us? We need to remember that Jesus Christ is worthy of our praise. These two events in the life of Jesus were preparation for the triumphant entry into Jerusalem in which the people declared him the earthly King, but Jesus has more to do than just break the oppression of the Roman empire.

He was coming to break the yoke of sin that was on the entire world. His upcoming crucifixion, death, and resurrection would pay the debt for all mankind. We can now be reconciled to God because of the love and sacrifice of his son Jesus. Make this Palm Sunday and Easter season about more than a bunny and some eggs. Make it about the one true savior who now sits at the right hand of the father and intercedes for us so that we can walk in victory in this life and look forward to eternity with him.