Sermon: “The Balm Is In Your Palms!”
March 29, 2026
Good Morning Saints and Happy Palm Sunday and Easter Season!
A short-story before we begin. When I was a young boy growing up in Northwest, Washington, D.C., Bishop Larry Dempsey’s family lived two houses down from us. During the summer months, at noon time, I would play catch in the front of our house, by throwing a tennis ball as hard as I could against the steps and catching it with my baseball glove. On those hot summer days, Mother Emma Dempsey would be upstairs with the window open (At that time they did not have window air-conditioners) praying and praising God with all of her might.
Often, I would stop playing and go down in front of her house and look up at the window, I could see her “lifting her hands” to God and praising and singing before the Lord; many times she would pray in the Spirit. I could hear her petition God for the safety of her eldest son, Melvin who was enlisted in the Army and stationed in Okinawa during the Vietnam War. I could also hear her pleading for her loving husband Willie to be saved, who worked most days and long hours. And, she would mention each of her 5 other children in prayer and grandchildren; thanking God for their Salvation, safety, and well-being.
Well Saints, Melvin came home from the war safe and sound, and became a successful accountant and administrator in the Department of Navy. About 25-years later, her husband gave his life to Christ at age 67, was filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spent the rest of their years in Church worshipping God together. Each one of her children were/are born-again Christians, and “all” of her grandchildren (15), and great-grandchildren (27), and great-great grandchildren (18) are saved and Church-goers, and lead productive lives!
I can tell you Saints, Mother Dempsey was a women of God who “always” praised God with her “hands lifted” toward Heaven, whether in Church, during Church Street-meetings, or while in devotion time at home. Praise God, she knew well that the Power of God moves and causes supernatural good from Heaven to fall upon those who lift their hands in wholehearted Praise to Jesus Christ! Somebody shout with joy saying, the “Balm is in My Palms!”
The writer of Psalm 118:24 states, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Saints, have you seriously contemplated what happens when from a sincere heart we “rejoice” before the Lord with all might? God lifts us up into His Presence and unlocks supernatural God-good things for you and others on your behalf!
The Hebrew word for “rejoice” conveys the meaning of combustible joy originating from the heart towards God and manifesting with physical signs of gladness; causing the worshipper to brighten-up, spin-around, leap, dance, sing, feast, and most important for this Sermon to lift up “holy hands” to God in total Praise!
On this Palm Sunday in which we celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ’s ride on a donkey into the city of Jerusalem before His crucifixion, I want to specifically focus on an aspect of what the massive crowds that went before and after Jesus were saying and doing. The Jewish people for whom Jesus had come to save were “rejoicing” as they hailed Him; with their hands waving and spreading cloaks and palm branches along the way continually shouting “Hosanna.” Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! (Matt.21:9)
By examining the Palm Sunday Story, I want us to learn (to the point of skillful-practice) about the absolute Authority and Power God has vested within our hands when we lift them up to Jesus in prayer and praise; as it stills the enemy Satan, and moves God to bring forth supernatural wonders and restoration to His People, according to Covenant Promises. Umm, King David wrote at Psalm 8:1-2:
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
God has ordained strength (divine praise of Him alone) as one of our weapons of mass destruction against the works of Satan and the kingdom of darkness to destroy spiritual barriers and strongholds. The full-force of our strength is released when we lift-up our hands in Praise to God in Christ Jesus to: “Resist” the devil and his devices; “Ready” ourselves to enter God’s Presence and receive divine intervention, and ignite a “Revolution” that turns the world from upside-down to right-side-up! Praise God, the Apostle Paul wrote at II Corinthians 10: 4-5:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Today’s Sermon, "The Balm Is In Your Palms," serves as a metaphor signifying that the healing, peace, and restorative Power of God is not far from us. But, is already within our reach, responsibility, and ability to apply to our lives, and those that concern us, when on one accord, we lift-up “holy hands” in “Praise” to Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Yes, sincere adoration and praise is a “precursor” to the manifestation of miracles! When, with fervent hearts, we lift up “holy hands” and praise God continually; the sick get healed, the blind are made to see, the lame walk, the dead rise again, and the poor are prospered!
Somebody again shout for joy saying, “The Balm Is In My Palms!” Notice, a moment ago I said when we lift up “holy hands” and Praise God in Christ Jesus, we enter into His Presence and the healing power of God is available to save the sick and perform sundry miracles. Look at your hands now Saints and know that they have been declared and made “holy” unto God, by God! Your hands are no ordinary pair of human hands, they are miraculous hands full of the Power of God! For the Lord has blessed “all” the works of our hands! (Deut. 28:12)
You see, “holy hands” are consecrated hands belonging to a Royal People that God predestinated from the foundations of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love, and to make His Praise glorious having been brought forth out of the kingdom darkness into the Kingdom of God! (Eph.1: 4 & I Pet. 2:9) When you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, you became God’s Property, spirit, soul, and body. The Apostle Paul wrote that we are to glorify (worship, praise, and magnify) God in our spirits and bodies, (The Temple of the Holy Ghost) which belong to God. (I Cor. 6:19-20)
Additionally, Paul wrote at I Timothy 2:8: “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting.” My, my, my, Paul said that “men” should pray and lift up “holy hands” in praise “everywhere.” In more than 25-years of leading praise and worship services, in many different venues, it’s sad to see so many men in general, including born-again Christians, who have such a hard time obeying the Commandment of God to raise their hands and praise God with all their might with all the Saints. When it comes to God, so many men are bound and uncomfortable showing any outward emotional expressions; not understanding that the lifting up of holy hands in worship of God is a sign of the condition of a man’s heart towards God. (Hands down, man down!)
When a man refuses to lift up his hands in worship of God it’s a sign of “wrath” against God and doubt; and it serves as a refusal to surrender to God’s Authority and Sovereignty over his life. Oh Saints, so many men (some women too!) have absolutely no problem releasing their emotions and screaming, cheering, and waving hands (like they just don’t care) for their favorite sports team or entertainers with all their might, or in political protest and uprisings. They have no problem while listening to secular music: singing, dancing, and lifting and waving their hands to the rhythms.
But, when it comes to God, figuratively speaking, so many men become paralyzed, even mummy-like, as prayer and praise of God goes forth in the Sanctuary. Perhaps they never have read and understood the Command and blessing of God that results from the lifting of holy hands in the House of God, recorded at Psalm 134:1-2:
Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
3 The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
Moreover, many born-again Christian men do not understand that as the leader of their households, God has ordained and anointed them to serve as the “Lead Priest” to confer with their hands the blessing upon the family, and to provide supernatural wisdom, healing, deliverance, safety, and prosperity to the family through the continual lifting up of holy hands in prayer and praise to God without wrath or doubt. Jesus Christ lifted up His hands in prayer and praise unto God the Father, and Jesus is the head of every man; and as the head of every woman, the man must lift up his hands to Christ. It’s the divine hierarchical order of the Family of God! (I Cor.11:3)
Saints, let’s understand key significances of lifting up holy hands in worship to God in Christ Jesus.
With “holy hands” lifted up to God, we are lifting our “entire life” to Him in surrender and holiness free from anger and quarreling. It means we are testifying of living in a steady-state of whole-hearted love and devotion to God, and that we are in obedience to God’s Commandment to love and forgive one another as Jesus Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. We lift up “holy hands” in unfeigned faith, rather than in doubt, knowing that God in Christ Jesus is the only True God (besides Him there is none other), and with the expectation that something supernaturally good is going to happen as we continually Praise and magnify Him!
Furthermore, lifting up holy hands in praise to God is an act of adoration and dependence upon God, symbolizing a desire (internally where God abides in our born-again hearts and externally as He sits on His throne in the third-Heaven) for His Presence and a total release of self-control. It serves as a physical expression of an internal spiritual state, often bringing a spiritual knowing as well as feelings of closeness to God, peace, joy, and victory over personal battles, as well as for those for whom we have concern.
Similar to a child reaching up with both arms to be held by a parent, lifting up holy hands signifies giving up self-reliance and trusting completely in God’s Sovereignty. Lifting up holy hands is an outward physical expression of love, honor, and gratitude, often accompanied by prayer, and sundry forms of “rejoicing” like prolonged clamorous celebratory singing, dancing, shouting, and crying. Lifting up holy hands also acts as a sign of openness and readiness to receive from God all He has instore for us. It communicates to God a humble admission that we need God’s Help and prepares us for spiritual, emotional, physical and financial breakthroughs.
The Holy Bible is chock-full of examples of God’s People, both individually and collectively, when raising their hands in prayer and praise to God received supernatural victories. The victories were so great; unexplainable by human wisdom, understanding, and might that only boasts could be made of God. Yes after praise with uplifted hands were made, the people had to confess: God did it, God did it, God did it! Praise God, as we go through these examples, and afterward detail the Palm Sunday story, we must remember that God “never” changes. At Malachi 3:6, God affirmed saying, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
God Authored and Finished mighty miracles at the hands of His People raised towards Him in the Old Testament and New Testament, and even to this day, and until the Lord returns, He will honor our holy hands lifted in praise with great and powerful victories to boast of His glory! Oh yes, even in this hour, God Almighty is waiting to draw near to us collectively and individually as we lift up holy hands in praise and adoration of Jesus our Lord.
Make note of this Saints: When first, fervent prayer and praise with uplifted holy hands is made before God, according to Covenant; a more than decisive victory will follow, knowing our Help cometh from the Lord who made the heaven and earth! Victory always follows the sounds of the praises of God’s People when made according to Covenant!
Isaiah 43:6, says, “Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.” My, my, my, God invites us to remind Him of His precious Promises and Covenants, to argue our case, and declare His Word so that we might be justified; signaling a call to faith and active engagement with God’s Promises.
Praise God, in fact, let’s just lift up holy hands right now and read aloud and affirm by faith in Jesus Christ finished works on the cross, God’s Promise to be our ever-present Helper and Keeper recorded at Psalm 121:1-8.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Now, in the Book of Exodus, Moses, the Man of God, is the first Biblical character explicitly described as raising his hands to God as a sign of prayer, reliance, and spiritual authority. Exodus 9:23, & 33 records, as Commanded by God, Moses stretched forth the rod of God (God had told Moses when He called him into service to use the rod (staff) as a sign of divine authority to perform miracles) to commence the hailstorm plague in Egypt, and then later stretched forth his hands abroad and stopped the “thunders and hail and rain upon the earth.” (Ex. 9:23 & 33)
At Exodus 14:21-31, when the children of Israel, pursued by Pharaoh’s Army to the Red Sea, at the Command of God, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and God “caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.”
After Israel passed through on dry land, Moses at the Command of God, raised his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to strength, while the armies of Egypt pursued Israel and they perished swallowed up by the waters; their dead bodies Israel observed washed up on shores made peaceful. And, the children of Israel went forth into the wilderness with the wealth of Egypt. (Ex.12:35-36)
Saints, also recall the battle between the children of Israel and the Amalekites, recorded at Exodus 17. While Joshua commanded the army against the Amalekites in Rephidim, Moses secured victory by holding up his hands, with the rod of God on a hill, with Aaron and Hur supporting his arms when they grew tired. (Ex.17:11-12) This act symbolized dependence on God, causing the Israelites to prevail whenever Moses’ hands were raised.
As a result of Joshua defeating the Amalekites, Israel secured a critical victory that allowed them to continue their journey to Mt. Sinai, where they received the Law of Moses; the comprehensive conditional Mosaic Covenant established between God and Israel comprised of 613-Commandments, including the Ten Commandments.
Saints, recall now how King Solomon in dedicating the Temple of God in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount placing the Ark of the Covenant within (a plan initiated by his father King David);
with his hands lifted and stretched-wide toward Heaven earnestly he offered sacrifices of praise and remembrances of the Davidic Covenant recorded at II Chronicles Chapters 6 and 7. Check out a portion of Solomon’s prayer with hands lifted towards Heaven made at 6:14-17:
And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:
15 Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.
16 Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.
17 Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.
Immediately after Solomon’s prayer was made, fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple, rendering it too holy for the priests to enter. (II Chron. Chapters 6 &7) Scripture tells us that when Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, “For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.” Following this, the people worshipped, and Solomon lead a massive, two-week-long celebration.
The “Corporate” humbling of the hearts of the children of Israel and worship at Solomon’s Temple, also reminds me of the great occasion when Ezra, (priest, scribe, and religious reformer) leading the Israelites in corporate worship, lifted up their hands while blessing the Lord; responding with Amen, Amen. Neh. 8:6 says, that the people “lifted their hands, and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.” Yea Saints, did not the Psalmist write in Psalm 124:2, “lift up hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord!”
After Ezra and the people worshipped with lifted hands, God initiated a profound spiritual revival, causing the people to weep upon hearing the Law of Moses, before being instructed to celebrate. God’s Presence moved the people to repentance and joy, as they recognized His grace and strength in their restoration.
Then in the Book of Psalms, Saints, there is King David’s explicit mentioning of lifting up his hands in prayer and praise to God, in expectation of God answering petitioned prayer in times of trouble and deliverance from enemies, for healing and prosperity, adoration and the sacrifice of praise. (Ps.28:2, 63:4, 141:2) David’s forever testimony, was that “he sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Ps. 34:4) Yea, David wrote: “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Ps. 34:1)
Lastly from the Old Testament, we can turn to the amazing story of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, told at II Chronicles 20. Facing a massive allied army of enemies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites; Judah far outnumbered by military might caused Jehoshaphat to fear and seek the Lord. Instead of conventional warfare, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and sought God’s guidance.
The Prophet Jahaziel declared to the king and all of Judah that, “the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Jehoshaphat thereafter appointed singers to march before the army of Judah that should “praise the beauty of holiness,” as they went before the army; saying continually “Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever.” Judah’s praise and jubilee was totally dependent upon the Covenant Promise given to Moses and Israel that the faithful God, which “keeps covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” (Deut.7:9)
My God, with great joy of heart the praise forces of Judah steadfastly declared the Truth about God and His Covenant with Israel; that His “mercy” never ends! They were giving witness that God’s mercy is not limited by time or human failings; its everlasting! They were highlighting that God gives grace and kindness even when people do not deserve it! They were boasting that God remains faithful even when humans are faithless! They were acknowledging God’s unmerited favor and goodness was upon them regardless of the circumstances and that victory over their enemies was certain and already accomplished! Somebody ought to lift up holy hands right now and shout for joy saying: “Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever!”
As the praise went forth, the Lord caused the enemy armies to turn on each other, resulting in complete destruction of the enemy forces. When Judah came toward the battlefield, they saw the multitude of dead bodies fallen and none escaped. Judah took away the spoils of battle, finding on dead soldiers an abundance of substance, riches, and precious jewels so much that it took three-days to collect it all. The battle was won without a fight, and the surrounding nations feared God, bringing peace to Judah.
Now, as we turn our attention to the Palm Sunday Story of Jesus Christ’s Triumphal ride into Jerusalem, let us understand that God is the most “Purposeful” being in and outside of the universe. The lifting-up of hands in prayer and praise by the Old Testament Saints, particularly during the pilgrimages to Jerusalem, the heart of the land Promised to Abraham and his descendants, serves as a Scriptural and thematic precursor to the praise offered during Christ’s ride into the city; as both representing acts of worship, surrender, and the anticipation of God’s Salvation.
The crowd’s actions on Palm Sunday of waving palm branches in their hands and laying them down and shouting Hosanna (meaning “save now”) echoed the ancient Prophecies and traditions of calling upon God for deliverance and celebrating His Presence. Umm, The Prophet Zachariah wrote:
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! (Jerusalem and its inhabitants the House of Israel/Judah) Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zech. 9:9 NKJV)
The Prophet Isaiah wrote:
Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him (Is.62:11)
The Psalmist wrote at Psalms 118:24-29:
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
"Hosanna" derives from the Hebrew phrase hoshi'a na, meaning "Save, I pray," "Save, please," or "save now," found in Psalm 118:25-26, is a direct plea to God for help, to deliver, make safe or free; which forms the basis for the shouts of "Hosanna" in the New Testament Story of Palm Sunday that we will read momentarily. The petition also made is for God to send forth “prosperity” now; which was a prayer for success and divine blessing, according to Abrahamic Covenant. (Gen.12:2-3 & Gen.15:18-21) Combined the call for “Hosanna” meant for God to save and prosper Israel/Judah today! That as God’s chosen people “rejoiced” exceedingly saying, “Hosanna,” He would abundantly deliver and give to them the power to get wealth and have good-success.
Now, let’s read the Apostle Matthew’s account of the Palm Sunday Story recorded at Matthew 21:1-16.
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,
16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
The crowds’ praise during the Triumphal Entry was a direct reaction to what they believed was the fulfillment of Prophecy, including Zechariah 9:9 (a king riding a donkey) and Psalm 118:25-26 (Hosanna/Blessed is He). While the lifting of hands in the Old Testament was often focused on the Temple as the seat of God, the crowd on Palm Sunday directed this same reverence toward Jesus, recognizing Him as the source of Salvation (the meaning of "Hosanna"). Just as the old covenant worshippers raised their hands to show surrender, the crowd on Palm Sunday with their hands they waved and spread their garments and palm branches, symbolizing submission to Jesus as the King. With hands lifted in joyous praise of Jesus, they continually shouted “Hosanna” Lord save us and send prosperity now, according to Prophesy of old. The masses of Jews cried for Salvation; to be saved by Jesus. This is exactly what Jesus testified that He was sent into the world to do; “to seek and save the lost.” (Luke19:10)
However, the crowd welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem misunderstood His Mission, as they were expecting a conquering political or military king to overthrow Roman rule and save them from its tyranny. While they hailed Jesus as the Promised King, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, they did not realize that the Master came as a “humble servant” (The Perfect Lamb of God) to die for their sins, to deliver them from evil, to receive eternal life and citizenship within a spiritual Kingdom; the Kingdom of God not of this present world. Their residency within this spiritual Kingdom would give them Power and Authority over the works of Satan, peace, love, joy, and righteousness in the hearts, as well as temporal blessings of healing and prosperity resulting from manifestations of their spiritual restoration, according to Abrahamic Covenant. (Gal. 3:13-14) The Kingdom of God, which is in the Holy Ghost, that they would have the opportunity to receive at Pentecost would lead and guide them into all the Truth, as well as serve as the Agent conforming them into the image of Jesus Christ.
But as we know Saints, within in a week, the massive crowds that shouted Hosanna on Palm Sunday, would shift to venomous chants of “Crucify Him” as many expected a military Messiah to overthrow Roman rule, rather than a suffering servant. (Luke 23:21 & John18:40) They would be influenced by religious leaders; as the crowd felt betrayed when Jesus did not meet their political or social agenda.
The Lord’s decision to ride a “donkey” into Jerusalem had great symbolism as it:
*Fulfilled prophecy; cementing Jesus’ public announcement to the Jews of His identity as the “Son of David” and their rightful King.
*Signaled that His Kingdom was based on love and peace, and not military force.
*The donkey, which is known as a “beast of burden,” represented the burden of the Law of Moses which no man could keep, which Jesus as the redeeming Lamb of God came to bear the sins of the people with one offering of the sacrifice of His life on the cross.
As the rightful King and Son of God, Jesus Christ exercised divine Authority to cleanse the Temple, reclaiming His Father’s House from “corruption.” This act symbolized a Prophetic judgment against the established religious system full of hypocrisy, asserting His sovereignty over true worship. The massive crowd had cried for the Lord to “save” them. So, the Temple had to be cleansed of sin (money changers and thieves and false worship), and all unrighteousness before true worship of God, with uplifted holy hands, could be made acceptable in His sight and the Power of God to flow to heal the sick.
To this end, Jesus Christ quoting from Isaiah 56:7, exclaimed, “My house is a house of prayer.” Yes, God’s House is the house of prayer for all peoples.” God’s House must remain holy, at all times, for worship with up lifted hands to God and of healing and spiritual renewal to flow. This cleansing of the Temple performed by Jesus is also interpreted to mean that we as born-again Christians, serve as “Temples” of the Holy Ghost, and are to keep our lives free from the practice of sin, so that we may worship God in the beauty of Holiness with hands lifted up without wrath and doubt.
Next, Matthew recounts that after Jesus cleansed the Temple of thieves and robbers, the “blind and lame came to him and He healed them.” Yes, lifting up of holy hands in worship and celebration of Jesus as the Messiah while riding on the donkey into Jerusalem; resulted in Christ not only cleansing the Temple of sin but, mighty miracle healings, and the children having witnessed the miracles crying loudly and joyfully “Hosanna to the Son of David.” The children’s enthusiastic, innocent worship contrasted with the religious leader’s rejection of Jesus and His works. When the chief priests and scribes were indignant and asked if Jesus heard what the children were saying, Jesus replied by quoting Psalm 8:2, which I mentioned earlier, stating that praise from the mouths of babes and sucklings, is in fact, “perfected praise.”
All told, this journey Jesus Christ took on the donkey from Bethphage, a village on Mt Olives, down to the city of Jerusalem was a deliberate move toward the ultimate Purpose to suffer and die as a sacrifice for the Salvation of Humanity. His death, burial, Resurrection from the dead on the third-day and thereafter, Ascension to the right hand throne of God the Father would all be accomplished so that anyone who would hear the Gospel and believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, could with uplifted hands towards God, call on the name of the Lord and be “saved.” For the Apostle Paul wrote at Romans 10:12-13:
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Saints, the primary Greek word for “saved” in the New Testament is “sozo,” which goes beyond simple rescue to mean someone made whole, healing, and preserving them. It signifies rescuing from danger, delivering from sin’s penalty, and restoring to health or a state of safety with prosperity.
Truly, today on Palm Sunday, as we lift up holy hands to God in Christ Jesus in the Sanctuary, without wrath and doubt, we rejoice in knowing that through the blood of the everlasting Covenant of God in Christ Jesus we are “sozo,” “saved.” And we bless the Holy name of Jesus. Praise God, with full assurance, we know that we have been washed from our sins in the precious blood of Jesus Christ and have been made free from all sin. (Rev.1:5) That, as beloved members of the Royal Family of God, we are kings and priests unto God. By the Blood Covenant, we are saved; made whole, healed, prospered, (I Pet. 2:24, III John 2 & II Cor. 8:9) preserved until the coming of the Lord to rapture His Church, and ultimately we will rule and reign with Jesus Christ when He establishes His Kingdom on earth. Because the “Balm Is In Our Palms,” we lift up holy hands to God for our children, and declare that our children in their generations are the heritage of the Lord, will be taught of the Lord, and experience the divine Peace of Christ. (Is 54:13, 2:10) They will find refuge under His wings (Ps. 91:4), and have a hope-filled future (Jer. 29:11), with Promises for their salvation, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and deliverance from harm. (Is. 49:25 & Acts 2:39, & 16:31)
And lastly, according to the Great Commission, given to us by Jesus Christ, we release our Authority to go forth into all the world and preach the gospel to all people with signs and wonders following as the balm of Christ is magnified in our palms, and to make disciples of all nations. (Mark 16:15-18 & Matt.28:19-20) Yea, with Jesus, we shall come rejoicing ringing in the sheaves! (Ps.126:6) Amen, for the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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