On Palm Sunday, CHRIST JESUS headed towards Jerusalem, and finding the colt waiting for HIM, HE had HIS Disciples go ahead, and secure it for HIM, that prophecy was fulfilled (ZECHARIAH 9:9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey...
OUR KING HAS COME; this refers to HIS CHURCH, which began with the Israelite's, and was then, offered to those whom knew HIM not! HE COULD have come in stately pomp, but that would belie HIS TRUTH, and encourage the ways of the world. Instead, HE was humble, gentle, kind, peaceable, calm, and focused on what HE had come to do; bring HIS people into HIS CHURCH; HIS KINGDOM, borne wholly of LOVE for us...
MANY people had followed HIM this far; HE had become a celebrity of sorts, especially after raising Lazarus from death, though there was doubt of HIM actually entering the city, since the elders were plotting to kill HIM, yet, throngs of people were on hand when HE TRIUMPHANTLY entered the gates of the city, waving palm leaves, throwing down their cloaks, and shouting, "HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST"!!!
CHRIST was barely 32 years old, and had spent all of HIS adult years teaching, and reaching out to the lost. HE existed in poverty, was ridiculed, denied, and much more, but HE DID what HE was sent to do, and NEVER lost HOPE, PEACE, or FOCUS, as the work FAR exceeded the sufferings, and HE LOOKED FORWARD to what was to come, not only for humanity, but for HIMSELF, for HE would defeat Satan, and death, once, and for all!!!
For many of the people, CHRIST JESUS represented something far different than HIS GIFT OF LIFE, they were expecting HIM to be a temporal DELIVERER from the clutches of Rome, and when it was found out that this was NOT part of HIS work, these, though they lauded HIM as HE entered Jerusalem, turned on HIM, and were part of the mobs which led to HIS being Crucified! The same applies to this time; people WANT from HIM what will benefit them in this world, and to heck with what HIS TRUTH is all about! They EXPECT much from HIM, but are UNWILLING TO GIVE HIM their hearts, their pride, and surrender the flesh...
Easter is about many things, in which case, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD IS prominent; HE HAS COME TO SAVE HIS people, and to redeem their souls, and this, at a HIGH, and MIGHTY PRICE, paid for by the precious blood of our SAVIOUR, JESUS...
All human life is a warfare; the Christian life is the most so; but the struggle will not last always. Troubles are removed in love, when sin is pardoned. In the great atonement of the death of Christ, the mercy of God is exercised to the glory of his justice. In Christ, and his sufferings, true penitents receive of the Lord's hand double for all their sins; for the satisfaction Christ made by his death was of infinite value. The prophet had some reference to the return of the Jews from Babylon. But this is a small event, compared with that pointed out by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament, when John the Baptist proclaimed the approach of Christ. When eastern princes marched through desert countries, ways were prepared for them, and hindrances removed.
And may the Lord prepare our hearts by the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that high and proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted, crooked and rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every hindrance removed, that we may be ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom. What are all that belongs to fallen man, or all that he does, but as the grass and the flower thereof! And what will all the titles and possessions of a dying sinner avail, when they leave him under condemnation! The word of the Lord can do that for us, which all flesh cannot. The glad tidings of the coming of Christ were to be sent forth to the ends of the earth. Satan is the strong man armed; but our Lord Jesus is stronger; and he shall proceed, and do all that he purposes. Christ is the good Shepherd; he shows tender care for young converts, weak believers, and those of a sorrowful spirit. By his word he requires no more service, and by his providence he inflicts no more trouble, than he will strengthen them for. May we know our Shepherd's voice, and follow him, proving ourselves his sheep.
In good times, in bad times, we PRAISE THE LORD *GOD*, and CONTINUE ON THE PATH of RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR HIS NAME SAKE, FOR HIS GLORY! We might stumble, we might fall, we might be challenged like never before, or never imagined, but IF we are TRUE, we CONTINUE ON, WITH ASSURANCE THAT HE IS OUR DELIVERER, as we GLORIFY HIM IN our ways, for the rest of our days, in the best of our knowledge, and capacity, while we grow INTO HIM, and adapt to HIS WILL, and WAYS; becoming more LIKE HIM...
CHRIST ENDURED TO THE BITTER END, and so shall we, for we ARE ONE WITH HIM!!!
Let us PRAY, let us PRAISE, let us WORSHIP ARIGHT, for THE LORD IS WITH us, and WILL LEAD us through, and past what we face, IF we have indeed, surrendered, body, heart, mind, and soul to CHRIST JESUS! HALLELUJAH, and HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST; our LORD HAS GONE THE DISTANCE, and HAS crushed what would take us from HIM!!!
LWINSOR © 2020
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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