PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 21:1-11
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.” (Matthew 21:5)
We have grown so familiar with this scene, we fail to see it’s significance.
Sunday School images of kids waving palm leaves doesn’t capture the seriousness.
This is the turning point of history, the mother of all battles.
The future of the world sits in the balance, who will come out on top?
The irony is that Jesus appears as such a weak, unimpressive contender.
What can he do against ‘the beast’ and the powers of this world?
Why doesn’t he call an army of angels, why does he show up so timid?
The answer reveals the most important lesson for us all to learn.
Satan is not beaten with power, Satan is beaten with humble obedience to God.
Jesus does what Adam and Eve should have done, he reflects God’s character.
He loves, he serves, he cares, he shares, he helps, he heals… like God.
It is because people don’t live like this that our world is the mess that it is.
To receive Jesus as Saviour and Lord isn’t just being a fan waving palm branches.
He calls us to be followers, to join him in overcoming evil the same way.
PRAYER
Lord, you have beaten Satan and taken back the throne for us. Help us not to just be fans (waving our palm branches) but to be followers, to overcome evil with good – with you, like you and for you!
“Who is this?” That is the question that everyone must answer about Jesus. Is he just a prophet? That’s what many people answered: he’s Jesus the prophet from Nazareth. In Islam Jesus is considered a holy Prophet as well. But that misses the whole point. Jesus is more than that. He is the Messiah – he is the redeemer – he is the spotless lamb that was slain for us so that death – alienation from God eternally is no longer our sentence. Who is this Jesus? The son of God yet son of man – the lamb that God provided so that the sentence for our sin is paid for!
The prophet said, ‘See your King.’
One bows down for a king. One serves the king like the disciples – being with and becoming like Jesus. He serves. Following Him is learning from Him. And His followers today learn from His Word being a servant of the King, living for Him in all I do and say. I need to be Christ like unto others by my words and deeds.
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands
For it’s only in Your will that I am free
For it’s only in Your will that I am free
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be