President’s Post: The vindication of Christ

This week, I wanted to take a moment to focus on one of the most important events in all of human history, just before Easter. What is that event, students? Palm Sunday. As you read in all four Gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ descends the Mount of Olives and enters Jerusalem triumphantly (Matt 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19), and crowds gather to lay palm branches along the road as he enters on a donkey.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus, time and time again, demonstrated his complete humility. Nothing was kingly about being born in a stable or placed in a manger. There was nothing kingly about working as a carpenter with rough and splintered hands. There was nothing kingly about associating with shepherds, fishermen and tax collectors. There was also nothing kingly about riding a donkey.

Yet, Palm Sunday demonstrates something of Christ’s kingly role that could not be manufactured. Jesus is the rightful King of Israel, and everything he did in obedience to God the Father demonstrated that he was the true Messiah. Jesus’ arrival on that day in Jerusalem fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy from the book of Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).

Jesus presented himself as Israel’s promised King when he entered the city. He was the anointed Lamb of God who took on humanity’s greatest enemy. Every Jew knew their Old Testament, and many would have remembered these words of Zechariah.

That is also why the crowds threw palm branches in his path on that historic day to recognize Jesus’ actual kingly role. They shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9). This very same crowd would turn on Jesus in less than a week. The same people would later curse Jesus and call on Pontus Pilate to release Barabbas. 

But we notice that Jesus came to save, and he came so that he would be vindicated. What do I mean by vindication? Jesus would prove by his death and resurrection that he truly is the Son of God, the Messiah, the rightful King of Israel, just as he had said. Jesus came to save, not himself, but he came to save us.

Jesus exhibited ultimate humility by offering up his life as a sacrifice. Paul wrote that our Savior “emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8). This was the only way that Jesus would fully conquer sin and death.

Christ’s mission was to rescue humanity from its sin and to bring about a perfect peace that can only come through placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus was the ultimate peacemaker. Jesus said in front of the multitudes that were gathered, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

As we reflect on the Prince of Peace this Palm Sunday, let’s also reflect on our roles as Champions for Christ. Are you a true Champion? Have you made peace with God through Jesus Christ by asking him into your heart to save you from your sin and to become Lord of your life?

The gospel is good news, but it is only good news for those who receive it. My hope and desire for every student at Liberty University is that they would know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I don’t want anyone at Liberty to leave without being saved by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and knowing God’s purpose for their life. But it all starts with knowing Christ first. He is our triumphant King.

Prevo is the Interim President of Liberty University.