有时候神的计划可能看起来很清晰，但也有些时候，我们并不清楚神在说什么，或做什么。
今天是棕枝主日，我们庆祝基督以君王的身份来临的日子。这一天，耶稣骑着驴驹进入耶路撒冷，我们很想知道这意味着什么。无论我们是否明白，神都有祂的计划，这个提醒对我们很有益处。约翰在描写这一事件时，引用了一个古老的预言（亚 9:9），说的是一位骑着驴驹来临的君王——而这在耶稣身上应验了。神必然有个计划！
多特信经这样描述神的计划和应许：“此对选民的旨意是从永远的爱所发出的，从世界之始以迄今日已经具有权能地完成了，以后要继续完成；阴间权柄的反抗实属徒然。”
耶稣骑驴走来时，众人大喊着“和散那！”呼唤着救恩。但并不是所有人都高兴。宗教领袖们视耶稣为对他们权柄的威胁，他们想要除掉祂。
我们在庆祝耶稣这位“奉主名来的”君王时，必须记住，神呼召我们不仅仅用呼喊和激动来回应。我们对基督来临、受死和复活的回应，应该是一颗相信的心，以及作为神儿女忠诚的生活。
主耶稣，求帮助我们忠诚地为你而活，来庆祝你的恩典，以表明我们信靠你是我们的救主。阿们。
约翰福音 12:12-19
12第二天，有许多上来过节的人听见耶稣将到耶路撒冷，
13就拿着棕树枝出去迎接他，喊着说：“和散那！奉主名来的以色列王是应当称颂的！”
14耶稣得了一个驴驹，就骑上，如经上所记的说：
15“锡安的民哪，不要惧怕！你的王骑着驴驹来了。”
16这些事门徒起先不明白，等到耶稣得了荣耀以后，才想起这话是指着他写的，并且众人果然向他这样行了。
17当耶稣呼唤拉撒路，叫他从死复活出坟墓的时候，同耶稣在那里的众人就作见证。
18众人因听见耶稣行了这神迹，就去迎接他。
19法利赛人彼此说：“看哪，你们是徒劳无益，世人都随从他去了！”
“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” — John 12:15
Sometimes God’s plan may seem rather plain, but at other times we wonder what he is trying to say or do.
Today is Palm Sunday, when we celebrate Christ’s coming as King. On this day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey, and we may well wonder what that is supposed to mean. So it’s good to be reminded that God had a plan, whether we understand it or not. Writing about this event, John quotes an old prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) about a king coming on a donkey’s colt—and this applies to Jesus. God definitely had a plan!
The Canons of Dort describe the Lord’s planning and promise this way: “This plan, arising out of God’s eternal love for the elect, from the beginning of the world to the present time has been powerfully carried out and will also be carried out in the future, the gates of hell seeking vainly to prevail against it.”
As Jesus rode in on a donkey, the crowd cried, “Hosanna!” calling for salvation. But not everyone there was happy. The religious leaders saw Jesus as a threat to their power, and they wanted to get rid of him.
As we celebrate Jesus, the one who came “in the name of the Lord,” we must also remember that God calls us to respond with more than shouting, more than excitement. Our response to Christ’s coming, dying, and rising again calls for a believing heart and living faithfully as God’s children.
Lord Jesus, help us to celebrate your gifts by living faithfully for you, showing that we believe and trust in you as Savior. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
