April 14, 2019
Just as He Said…
His Triumphant Entry…
“Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.” Zechariah 9:9
Just as people today are waiting and seeking fulfillment, meaning, and truth in their lives, desperate for the Promise-Keeper, the people of Jerusalem were desperate for the Messiah…As the people watched and waited for their King to come, Jesus, the King of Kings, entered the gate of the city on the back of a donkey’s colt in fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy.
Jesus traveled with His disciples to the city of Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and entered the city from the east, having traveled the two miles from Bethpage and Bethany at the Mt. of Olives. Before His arrival, He sent two of His disciples into the village, and informed them where they would find a colt. They found it, ‘Just as Jesus had said’… (Luke: 19:28-32)
Of course they did; Jesus is our Promise-Keeper!
His followers welcomed their King…The One they had waited for! The One who was coming in the name of the LORD! In homage to their King, they threw their outer garments onto the road in front of Him. They waved their palm branches, as symbols of beauty and prosperity, believing that Jesus entered to fulfill their anticipation of a political and military victory against those who oppressed and persecuted them. And, like so many others in our world today, they did not fully understand why God sent His Son…
They did not understand that Jesus came to walk with mankind, to teach us and show us how to live a new way…His Way. He came to fulfill the OT Covenant, perfectly and completely. And He brought the New Covenant as victory over death and darkness, and victory over the power, and destruction of sin! He came as the humble servant, living and devoting Himself to service, gathering the outcasts, the suffering, the broken, the hopeless, the guilty, the contrite and humble…all of whom had broken God’s laws…most of whom had broken man’s…He came to search for and to rescue every lost lamb.
Yes, the Glory of God Changes Everything!
There is no doubt that as Jesus walked closer and closer to the city of Jerusalem, and rode on the back of a colt into the city gate, He knew what awaited Him…He knew the cup from which He would drink…Jesus knew all of the estimated 300 prophecies concerning Him…He spent time in prayer with His Father, who had identified Him as His Son and had affirmed how pleased He was with Him. Jesus Christ knew where He would walk…He knew the anguish He would suffer mentally, spiritually, and physically…And, He knew all and everything of what was necessary to fulfill His purpose…The Suffering Savior came into the gate of Jerusalem prepared and willing to walk out His days, to fulfill His purpose for you and for me.
Jesus was truly God’s Flesh and God’s Blood…
Jesus understands, and He knows each one of our days, and every circumstance we will experience. He understands our humanness, the challenges, and the obstacles we will face. He understands broken hearts. He understands hearts grieving over the loss of a child; He understands all grief. He understands the worry, guilt and pain of caring for elderly parents, our hearts wondering if we are doing enough, and our limitations testifying that we cannot do more. He understands. Remember, He knows things we cannot know, and He Sees things we cannot see. He has gone ahead of us; He knows what has been prepared. He knows the Joy and Glory waiting for each one of His children…He will be there.
He understands the devastation of broken promises and betrayal by trusted friends and associates…He understands what it is like to walk through the difficult gates of life! He understands our limitations, our failures, our weaknesses, and our humanness…and He waits with His sufficient grace, day by day. He is here!
And Jesus, although He was God in His flesh, and man in His frailty, committed no iniquity. He maintained His perfect Holy relationship with His Father…and His perfect Holy position at His Right Hand. Jesus understands what it is like to wait…and to walk through the gate of life:
Jesus stepped down from Heaven…
As your King…
As your Messiah…
As your Deliverer…
As your Savior…
As your Shepherd…
As the perfect, unblemished, LAMB of GOD!
His Triumphant Entry…
Jesus made His Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem to walk and live out the days as the Passover Celebration approached. He entered the gate to, Once and for All, set free those who were bound by the enemy’s shackles…to rescue captives…and those who were lost…And, Jesus, the Son of God, waits and understands…He is waiting to enter the gate of hearts, all hearts…and every heart desperate for the Savior.
Today, on this Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, may we pray for all people to allow God to unlock the gates of their hearts, and to allow Jesus to make His Triumphant Entry into their lives, so they will see the Glory of Easter! May we pray that all people will know Him and trust Him, and believe that He understands their human flesh and human frailty…Of course He understands…He shed His blood and He suffered as a man of sorrows.
And, may we as God’s people, open the gates of our lives, and invite Jesus in to renew our devotion and commitment to Him… May we remove the barriers from our hearts and lay them at His Feet…May we wave the banners of Praise…proclaiming with our words, and our lives…
“Hosanna… Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD. Hosanna in the highest heavens!” Matthew 21:9 (NIV)
Oh my friends…Sunday is Coming…
And, Jesus is here!
May others Come and See Him for themselves…
Yes, indeed, they will find all things are…
JUST AS HE SAID!
Love you in Jesus,
