Heavenly Father, thank you for this time we have together. I thank You for the many blessings you’ve poured into my life, known and unknown, and praise You for the work you’ve begun in me. Quiet my mind and thoughts, that I can hear only You. Amen. Matthew 21:1-11
The Message (MSG)
The Royal Welcome
21 1-3 When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: “Go over to the village across from you. You’ll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you’re doing, say, ‘The Master needs them!’ He will send them with you.”
4-5 This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet:
Tell Zion’s daughter, “Look, your king’s on his way, poised and ready, mounted On a donkey, on a colt, foal of a pack animal.”
6-9 The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, “Hosanna to David’s son!” “Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!” “Hosanna in highest heaven!”
10 As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, “What’s going on here? Who is this?”
11 The parade crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee.”
The contrasts that show up in these verses caught my eye this morning. Jesus, who earlier had declared that he was Lord, Son of David, gave his disciples the power to “borrow” a donkey and its colt in His name only, yet arrived in Jerusulem as a King, not on a beautiful white stallion, but on a donkey. Even still, the people welcomed him like a King, laying down branches like a red carpet, and shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David” and worshiping him. These are the same people that in a few days, would totally desert him.
How like them am I! I worship him one day, proclaim him as my Lord and Savior, and then the very next day (and even sometimes the same day), I am injurious to others, and quick to anger. I am two-faced, and unable and unwilling to share the love and forgiveness that has been so freely given to me by my Redeemer. Who is that?! That’s not the gentle, humble person that Jesus wants me to be. His example in these verses shines – He is the servant, who is also God and King, and is quick to totally forgive and forget all my sins.
Father God, thank you for sending your Son as the example for my life, to be a humble servant, and for sacrificing Him to make me white as snow. Send your Holy Spirit to daily remind me to praise Him, Hosanna (Save Now!)!
kristi
p.s. Remember – we are learning to implement the “S” - Serve! J
Father in Heaven,
I pray that out of Your glorious riches you would strengthen ________ with power through Your Spirit in _______ inner being, so that Christ may dwell in ________ heart through faith. And I pray that _______, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all Your holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that _______ may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Amen.