Image from pinterest.com
Hear Here: https://bit.ly/2QUJzX6
1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, "The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately. " 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" 11 The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee." (Matthew 21:1-11 RSV)
May the blessings of the Lord Jesus, He our King, be upon you, Friend, and yours! I spoke with a dear friend who's serving a church in Indiana. He made my day in sharing that whenever this crisis is over, the very first Sunday that the church can gather, they're just going to have a party, to promote fellowship. The second Sunday they are going to celebrate everything related to Easter and Holy Week. The service will start with everyone coming in with palm branches, they will celebrate Holy Communion for Maundy Thursday, remember Good Friday, and then celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus. That lifted my heart! When it will be, no one knows, but the hope of it finally being over someday should lift our spirits.
This coming Sunday ends our Lenten Journey and begins our Holy Week. The tradition has been around almost as long as the Church. The faithful gather and enter their worship spaces with palm leaves and remember that special day when Our King entered Jerusalem. It was all part of God's plan for His holy city, His beloved Jerusalem. Everything fell into place; from the animals needed for Jesus' ride into the city, to the way the Spirit moved people to receive Him. It was a fulfillment of the prophet Zechariah in chapter 9, verse 9, quoted above, where the "daughter of Zion (a reference to Jerusalem), look, your King is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." The disciples go and find the animals were ready and take them to Jesus, who mounts the donkey and rides towards Jerusalem. A large crowd gathers and reacts like a crowd expecting a king; they spend their cloaks on the ground, others cut branches from the palm trees and spread those on the road. They also began to chant and shout, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest Heaven!" Many shouted who were not even sure of Who Jesus even was. The majority of the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
It would be this same crowd shouting something different on that very Friday. And the chants were not for a king, but a criminal. But for now, we rejoice at the welcome given to our King.
Friend, Jesus is my King, as He is yours if you have given Him that right. He has never failed us, and never will. He is the hope of the world, and He is the light at the end of any man-made or man-created "tunnel." He will provide a way, as that is part of the name He gave Himself in John 14, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." That should speak to our hearts during an uncertain time as this. Jesus is also our peace, and He grants that to us freely and lovingly.
PRAYER: Thank You, Father God, for our King, Jesus. May we invite Him to rule in our lives in mighty ways. Father, lift those who are down. Smile and embrace those who are lonely and missing their families. Boost our energy for times when we have done nothing. May we praise You always. We pray in Jesus' name, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Thank your pastor(s) for leading us in worship yesterday through online messages. Send them a handwritten note or an email!
Receive my blessings of love and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
