CHRIST JESUS began HIS Ministry upon THE HOLY SPIRIT entering HIM, which HE did with pity, and compassion for the people, and passion for THE FATHER and HIS HOLY WILL/PLAN. HIS whole existence thereafter, was spent going from village to village, mountain to sea, and throughout the countryside to heal, and teach all. HE was relentless and tireless in HIS GLORY OF THE FATHER, and stressing the NEED for people to 'come' to HIM THAT they might be SAVED. HE took nothing with HIM, and slept where HE might, and ate as HE could. It is true that HE could have come into the world with pomp as HE IS THE KING OF KINGS, but instead, HE took on humility, modesty, and the role of a servant, which was necessary TO THE PLAN, in that HE BECAME, and experienced ALL things for the sake of those HE longed to SAVE, and to SHINE OF HIS FATHER. HE WAS FULLY *GOD*, and FULLY MAN, but while here, HE lowered HIMSELF to raise us!!!
CHRIST began building HIS CHURCH by choosing HIS Disciples, teaching them, and sending them into the world while HE was yet here. HE CHOSE 12 men, who FOLLOWED HIM, as particular people have since that time. The people were astounded by CHRIST JESUS, and followed HIM also, and closely, still there was much disbelief; many were more interested in signs, wonders, and redemption from Rome than in actually coming to TRUTH IN HIM...
The time was near when our LORD would come to the altar, and sacrifice HIMSELF for our sins. Not even HIS closest followers quite understood what was to come, or how it would change them, or the world forever, but they sensed HIS mood, and HIS sadness, as they struggled to understand why HE must go into Jerusalem, since the enemies within, sought HIS life because they were evil hypocrites who led the people astray, while demanding fanfare and magnificence which was NOT theirs...
As they headed to Jerusalem, now in Jericho, the crowds witnessed more of HIS POWERS, and HIS AUTHORITY, in which case they were moved! HE no longer told HIS Disciples not to proclaim HIM aloud, well, let us look at the text:
MATTHEW 21: 1-17...
1+++When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples,
2+++saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to Me.
3+++And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them on immediately.”
4+++Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:
5+++“SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,
‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU,
HUMBLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,
EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A DONKEY.’”
6+++The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them,
7+++and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on them; and He sat on the cloaks.
8+++Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.
9+++Now the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who 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!”
10+++When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”
11+++And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
12+++And Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
13+++And He *said to them, “It is written: ‘MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a DEN OF ROBBERS.”
14+++And those who were blind and those who limped came to Him in the temple area, and He healed them.
15+++But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant,
16+++and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘FROM THE MOUTHS OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF’?”
17+++And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.
The chief priests and the elders afterwards joined with the multitude that abused him upon the cross; but none of them joined the multitude that did him honour.
Those that take Christ for their King, must lay their all under his feet. Hosanna signifies, Save now, we beseech thee! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!
But of how little value is the applause of the people! The changing multitude join the cry of the day, whether it be Hosanna, or Crucify him. Multitudes often seem to approve the gospel, but few become consistent disciples. When Jesus was come into Jerusalem all the city was moved; some perhaps were moved with joy, who waited for the Consolation of Israel; others, of the Pharisees, were moved with envy. So various are the motions in the minds of men upon the approach of Christ's kingdom.
Christ found some of the courts of the temple turned into a market for cattle and things used in the sacrifices, and partly occupied by the money-changers. Our Lord drove them from the place, as he had done at his entering upon his ministry, Joh 2:13-17. His works testified of him more than the hosannas; and his healing in the temple was the fulfilling the promise, that the glory of the latter house should be greater than the glory of the former. If Christ came now into many parts of his visible church, how many secret evils he would discover and cleanse! And how many things daily practiced under the cloak of religion, would he show to be more suitable to a den of thieves than to a house of prayer!
HOSANNA, GLORY TO *GOD* IN THE HIGHEST! HALLELUJAH, REJOICE GREATLY; look at what LOVE HAS done for us! And sadly, notice how few will ever notice, acknowledge, or receive it!!!
LWINSOR © 2021
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
No comments:
Post a Comment