Many people recognize these words as those spoken at the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem the last week of his life. This was a messianic greeting, meaning that the people that day believed their messiah had come. But they didn’t understand that his first coming would be for sacrifice on the Passover.
Around that same time, Jesus gave a warning to the Jewish leaders. He said, “You will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Matt. 23: 29. Those Jews who accepted him at that time were saved. That included three thousand on the Day of Pentecost which was fifty days after the Passover.
But the majority of the nation, and certainly their leaders, rejected Jesus. The leaders even said, “let his blood be on us and our children”. What chilling words that would come true in that generation! They saw the decline and fall of their nation over the next forty years! Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70.
Are these timely words for today? Our only hope is spiritual. Will we be like the first century Jews and Gentiles who received Jesus, abundant life, and ultimately eternal life? Or will we as a culture see only decline and destruction? Only God knows. We are living on borrowed time. Only God knows when His grace will run out for a culture that has turned against God and all his standards of morality and decency.
But we do know that everything we do for the Kingdom of God will last for eternity! Small acts of dedication and service multiplied among millions of believers will help millions more find eternal life. Centuries ago the barbarians were at the gates of the Roman Empire, which had been Christianized by that time. But over time, as the empire fell, the barbarians were Christianized. The good news of Jesus still won out! Western Judeo-Christian civilization emerged stronger than ever.
In a few short days, we will have a wonderful program called Messiah in the Passover. It will be on Friday, March 12 at 7:00. We will watch as a guest takes us through the prophetic significance of the Passover Meal. By the way, Baruch Haba Bashem Adonai, is Hebrew for “Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.”
Lord, we feel that once again the barbarians are at the gates: including those who don’t know you or deny you and rail against every truth that comes from you. We pray that you will remove blindness from the eyes of unbelievers (I Corinthians 4:4). We see that this nation is at war with its own Judeo-Christian heritage and even its founding documents. We pray that you expose the deceptions and delusions that keep people from seeing the simple truth of good and evil. We see rebellion all around us and know that Jesus is the only answer.
Lord, we thank you that any individual at any time can still receive you as Lord and Savior through the Name of Jesus. And so we say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Lord, prepare our hearts to worship you during this coming Easter season as we celebrate the sacrifice and the Lordship of Jesus the Messiah. We thank you that more and more believers are able to return to services and celebrate together the victory of Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.