Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-11
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Beth'phage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, `The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying, "Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass."
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee."
Question: Would you be willing to go into a town, knowing your very coming would open you up to your enemies, enabling to not only capture you, but kill you? This is exactly what Jesus did. He came into town openly, finally acknowledging by His very actions that He was the long awaited Messiah.
Many of the Jewish leaders saw this as a threat to themselves & the comfortable life they had made for themselves. They had comprimised with the Romans who ruled over them. They knew that Jesus ment trouble for them. A king set up in opposition to Rome would mean war & disaster for them. They would lose what they had gained.
What they failed to see is the truth. Jesus was the Messiah, yes, He was the King. But, He didn't come to conquer & set Israel free from Roman rule. He came in peace. Riding into town the way he did was a symbol of that. A proud conqueror came in in that era riding on a magnificent steed. A humble king, coming in peace, rode on a donkey.
Jesus did come to set the Israelites free, as well as all of us. But, it was freedom from sin & death. He came to die for each & every 1 of us. He came because He loved each of us. Hosannah means "God save us" & that is exactly why He came. To save us from the penalty of sin that each of us owed.
Today begins what is known as Holy Week. It was made holy by the actions of Jesus. Today is the openning act of a cosmic drama. A drama that affects each & every 1 of us. May God pour out His Holy Spirit to enlighten your eyes to see, your mind to understand & your heart to accept what Jesus is doing for you.
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Beth'phage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, `The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying, "Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass."
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee."
Question: Would you be willing to go into a town, knowing your very coming would open you up to your enemies, enabling to not only capture you, but kill you? This is exactly what Jesus did. He came into town openly, finally acknowledging by His very actions that He was the long awaited Messiah.
Many of the Jewish leaders saw this as a threat to themselves & the comfortable life they had made for themselves. They had comprimised with the Romans who ruled over them. They knew that Jesus ment trouble for them. A king set up in opposition to Rome would mean war & disaster for them. They would lose what they had gained.
What they failed to see is the truth. Jesus was the Messiah, yes, He was the King. But, He didn't come to conquer & set Israel free from Roman rule. He came in peace. Riding into town the way he did was a symbol of that. A proud conqueror came in in that era riding on a magnificent steed. A humble king, coming in peace, rode on a donkey.
Jesus did come to set the Israelites free, as well as all of us. But, it was freedom from sin & death. He came to die for each & every 1 of us. He came because He loved each of us. Hosannah means "God save us" & that is exactly why He came. To save us from the penalty of sin that each of us owed.
Today begins what is known as Holy Week. It was made holy by the actions of Jesus. Today is the openning act of a cosmic drama. A drama that affects each & every 1 of us. May God pour out His Holy Spirit to enlighten your eyes to see, your mind to understand & your heart to accept what Jesus is doing for you.
posted by Al @ 2:12 AM
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