The Armor of God The Helmet of Salvation & The Sword of the Spirit The Armor of God The Helmet of Salvation & The Sword of the Spirit

Ephesians 6:17 - “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Mark 11: Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father, David! Hosanna in the highest!”

Over the centuries and across a vast variety of cultures, Christians have used art to depict different aspects of Jesus’ life.

Jesus’ entry into the city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday is no exception. Artists have, for a long time, tried to imagine what that day looked like.

So, for example, in almost every piece of art depicting that event you see the children greeting Him.

You see the crowds of people greeting Him and welcoming Him into their city.

Of course the disciples usually manage to get into the picture.

And of course, no Palm Sunday scene would be complete without the donkey Jesus rode upon.

Naturally, you would expect to see palm branches figuring prominentl y in the scene.

No matter what the culture or the country, the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is well represented in Christian art.

But now where should our focus be today, as we consider Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem? Should it be upon what we imagine in our mind’s eye?

That would certainly be okay but today I’d like to suggest that we not concentrate so much on what we see - the images of Palm Sunday that fill our imaginations.

Rather, let’s concentrate upon what we hear… the sounds of Palm Sunday! And what those sounds… what is it that we hear on Palm Sunday?

Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!

As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem and made His way through it, He was welcomed as a conquering hero… a King coming home from battle! That’s why there were shouts about the “coming kingdom of David.” That’s why there were all those palm branches waving.

And that’s why there were the shouts of “Hosanna!” In ancient times, “Hosanna” was a greeting crowds of people would give to conquering heroes and returning kings. “Hosanna” means “save us.”

In ancient times, people would shout “Hosanna” (“save us”) to the warrior who had, in effect, already saved them. The battle would already be over. The victory already won. The fighting would have already seen a successful conclusion.

So even though technically speaking, the people were calling out to be saved,l in a sense… They really didn’t mean it. They thought that they had already been saved.

But Jesus knew better He knew that the battle had yet to be fought. He knew that the enemy still had to be engaged in combat. He knew that blood still had to be shed. He knew that His blood still had to be shed. Before any victory could be won

Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem To engage in spiritual warfare with Satan. And to win the great victory. Our great victory!

Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem Bringing our Salvation And bringing Himself - “the Word made flesh.” In other words… the armor of God

The Armor of God In the spiritual warfare that we are engaged in, the apostle Paul says that we need to “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

The Armor of God In the context of Palm Sunday, taking up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit means that we take as our own what Jesus came bringing that first Palm Sunday, 2000 years ago.

The Armor of God We take as our own the salvation He won for us when He did battle.

The Armor of God And we take as our own Jesus Himself for He is ultimately the Word of God… the Word of God “made flesh.”

The Armor of God “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1 & 14

What does it mean to take up our salvation as we would a helmet? Well… just like it was with the breastplate of righteousness or the shield of faith it means that we rely upon what God gives us and not upon what we might muster up for ourselves.

And what does God give us? He gives us our salvation! He gives us Jesus!

He gives us our Salvation Salvation is not something get for ourselves. It is something we receive! As the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10

He gives us Jesus. And this salvation is completely connected to receiving Jesus. As the apostle Peter said when he and the apostle John were on trial in front of the Sanhedrin: “For salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven (other than the name Jesus) given to people by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

So… when Jesus entered Jerusalem and people shouted “Hosanna” - His response to that something along the lines of this: “I will… “Accept the salvation that I alone bring you.” “Accept me.”

Jesus says the same thing to us today. “Accept the salvation that I alone bring you.” “Accept me.” Do you want to be ready for the spiritual warfare that you are engaged in? Do you want to put on the full armor of God?

As we engage in the daily battles we have with Satan, we do so… Relying upon the fact that we have our salvation already! Relying upon the fact that we have Jesus Himself with us! “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:34-35 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:34-35 “And surely I will be with you always to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 “And surely I will be with you always to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 And then there’s also this…

We remember that the Word of God doesn’t come to us only as the “in flesh” form of Jesus Himself… It comes to us in the written form of the Bible! “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:13-17 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:13-17 And God’s written Word - as it is studied, meditated upon and applied - becomes a mighty sword!

There are all sorts of sights and images this Palm Sunday.

The images and pictures remind us of so much that happened that day.

This Palm Sunday, however, don’t just see what happened. Hear the words that were spoken. Hear the “Hosannas!” Hear the cries, “Save us!” Hear all that and know…

That in Jesus Christ salvation has come! And that in Jesus Christ you have the full armor of God! Amen.