HE IS ABLE

One of the words that will be heard around the world this Sunday is “Hosanna”, not a word that we generally hear outside of Palm Sunday except in a few worship choruses.  It is a word that comes directly from the Hebrew into our usage, just as “Hallelujah” or “Yahweh”, meaning save now, help now, or save we pray thee.  The word was offered in praise on Jesus’ triumphal entry as the One prophetically promised in answer to this oft-prayed prayer.

It reminds me of the passage in Rom 4:20-21 that uses Abraham’s example of God’s promise serving as the anchor to his faith and belief in God’s promise.  Earlier in the passage (vv 17-18)), it says that “He believed in God—who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.  He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what had been spoken (the promise).  He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God because—(and this is the definition of “belief”)—he was (1) fully convinced that what He had promised, (2) He was able to perform.”

The question to Jesus’ ability to perform was raised in Mk 9:22-24, by the father of a son possessed by a spirit whom the disciples were unable to drive out of the boy.  Questioned by Jesus, the father answered, “But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us (the Hosanna prayer!)  Jesus replied to him, “If You are able?  Everything is possible to the one who believes.”  There is nothing in God’s ability that is limited, which the father immediately understood and expressed, “I do believe!  Help my unbelief.”

There are three examples of unbelief that spring to mind.  One is given in Mt 13:58, where it says that Jesus “did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”  In the parallel passage Mk 6:6, it gives Jesus’ reaction to their unbelief—“And He was amazed at their unbelief.”  The second example was when the disciples were in the boat with Jesus and He calmed the wind and waves.  The disciples’ fear and subsequent amazement that even the wind and waves obeyed Jesus pointed to their unbelief in the midst of the storm.  Finally, another time that Jesus rebuked the disciples’ unbelief and hardness of heart, was surprisingly, immediately prior to giving the Great Commission in Mk 16:14.

Unbelief is a struggle that we deal with as we grow in our faith.  If not rooted out, it leads to hardness of heart.  The real question to what we confront in our lives is—"Is God able to perform all that He has promised?”  If the answer is in the affirmative, which it is, our lives will be transformed because we will respond in a righteous manner.  Just as in Rom 4:22, where it says regarding Abraham, “that it was credited to him for righteousness.  But if we waver in unbelief, it will manifest itself in multiple ways—worry, complaining, lack of contentment, lack of thankfulness, anger, coveting, wrong priorities, etc.  To not believe allows deception to wreak its havoc.

But the encouragement is the truth that God is indeed able.  It is the truth that allows our Hosanna prayer for His saving, His help to be prayed this Palm Sunday in full expectation of His ability to perform all that He has promised us—Hallelujah!

2 Tim 1:2, “I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.”

Eph 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us.”  This is in response to Paul’s prayer that the Ephesians “rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend the vastness of God’s love and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

2 Cor 9:8, “And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work."

Ph 3:21, “He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.”

Heb 2:18, “For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.”  Heb 7:25, “He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.”

Finally, in Jude 24, “Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless, and with great joy…”

Just a few of many occurrences of the phrase—“He (God) is able!”  He is able indeed.  And may we be enabled by the resurrection power that dwells in us.  Amen.