[19] Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. [20] This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. (Psalm 118:19–20)
Palm Sunday is the gateway to Jesus’ passion. In his passion, Jesus became our gateway to righteousness.
Jesus entered Jerusalem on our behalf. Our Lord’s suffering was our suffering. His abandonment by the Heavenly Father was the abandonment we should have suffered. He experienced all of this to pay the price for our sins. We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:21:
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Because Jesus has made us righteous, we join the Psalmist in passing through the gate of the Lord. One day, we’ll pass through a gateway to enter into the very presence of God.
(A Second Look devotions are written for the congregations of the Ohio District LCMS.)
Kevin Wilson 360 