“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

This familiar verse is often quoted, or sung, on the Lord’s Day, or perhaps some other special day. In context, however, it refers to the day on which the Lord’s people would see Him and cry out in joy: “Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the LORD” (Psalm 118:26).

And this is exactly what happened on that first “Palm Sunday,” when Jesus rode on the colt into Jerusalem, and the multitude began to praise God, saying, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Luke 19:38).

The Jewish leaders, however, and the city as a whole repudiated this response, and it soon became evident that they would seek to destroy Him. He wept over the city, “saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. . . . Because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation” (Luke 19:42,44).

“At least in this thy day. . . . The time of thy visitation.” This was the day the Lord had made—the day prophesied for centuries—the day when Messiah would enter the Holy City as its King. But they would not have Him, and the Lord Jesus sadly had to pronounce coming judgment on them. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together, . . . and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. . . . Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:37-39).

This will happen when Christ returns. In the meantime, this can be a wonderful experience for each individual who will say from his heart: “Blessed is He who comes to me in the name of the Lord,” receiving Him by faith. That day, for him, indeed will be “the day that the LORD hath made.” HMM