GOD WINS!!!
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’” The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!”
Mark 11:1-10 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
This passage is known as the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. In that day and time, a Roman general was allowed to have a triumphant parade if he had killed at least 5,000 of the enemy in battle. He would be paraded into Rome marching his prisoners from the battle. The parade would end at the colosseum where the prisoners would fight wild beasts to entertain the masses. Jesus had his parade before His triumph. He would be crucified in a few days, then on the third day raise from the dead. Then some forty days later the Holy Spirit would be poured out on Pentecost and 5000 people would be brought into the kingdom of God. To us it may seem strange for Jesus to ride a donkey, but this was to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 about the king coming riding on a donkey. The donkey was a symbol of a humble, servant king coming in triumph. In my studies of this passage it is noted that often people have talked about the crowds one day praising Jesus as the king and then a few days later yelling, “Crucify him!” I have even been guilty of using that as an illustration of the fickle crowd. But scholars believe those who praised Jesus on this day were Jews from the Galilean area. They had witnessed His miracles, including the raising of Lazarus from the dead. During the time of Passover the city of Jerusalem would triple in size because of Jews coming from all parts of the whole to celebrate. The Romans would be on high alert because often chaos would break out between the various factions of Judaism. There would be times when zealots would use the mass of humanity as a time to spark a riot. Scholars believe the Jews who called for Jesus’ crucifixion were Jews from the area of Judaea and Jerusalem. They were more influenced by the religious leaders who were very jealous of Jesus. The leaders had decided not to act during Passover, but Jesus forced their hand with His triumphal entry. Jesus knew the timing of Father God. He knew He must die on Passover as the Lamb of God. This public act of celebration was the key to release the timing of God. God is always working in human history. While we may think we are in charge; God is still the one who is in charge. We may try to fight against His will and timing, but He will win. Let’s choose to partner with God in His plan and purpose.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help me to see Your timeline. Help me to partner with You. Help me to keep in step with You.
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