Palm Sunday

PRAYER: Create in me,  dear LORD, a pure heart; show me how to let go of the bitterness, the desire to try to control my own circumstances, the sin I won't let go of on my own, the envy, the worldly dreams, the past that I have no control over... LORD, show me how to truly "let go and let God!"  And let You handle everything in my life but first I need to make You apart of everything in my life.  We cannot put you on pause when we want to do unholy activity.  Your eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.  I want You to be pleased with my actions LORD.  I desire to grow closer to You.  I desire a deeper understanding of Your Word.  I thank You, LORD, I'm calling out to You today because You have called me to do so.  Meaning that we're always on Your mind, every little detail of me is on Your mind.  And because You love each one of us, as we mature with You, Your desires become our desires.  And by Your Spirit, our lives begin to change and show Your Glory.  Hallelujah.  Thank You for Your forgiveness LORD.  Thank You for Your protection.  Thank You for being a God that I can trust with every trouble, dream, problem, and move that I want to make.  Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.  I cannot thank You enough.  In Jesus' name.  Amen

 

MATTHEW 21:1-11 

THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY:

¹ As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her.  Untie them and bring them to me.  ³ If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ⁵ "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "

⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.  ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.  ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"  "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  "Hosanna in the highest!"

¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" 

¹¹ The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

When Jesus entered Jerusalem ("Daughter of Zion") on a donkey's colt, He fulfilled the prophecy in the Old Testament, Zechariah 9:9 and He affirmed His messianic royalty as well as His Humility.  Verses 8 is one of the few places where the Gospels record that Jesus' glory is recognized on earth.  Jesus boldly entered the city and the crowd gladly joined Him-making sure He or the donkey never touched the ground; (and we'll read in the future) waving palms.  But these same people would bow to political pressure and desert Him in just a few days.  Today we celebrate this event on Palm Sunday (a week before Easter).  How many of you knew what Palm Sunday was all about?  I've only learned what it truly represented in the last 4 years.  No worries if you didn't know, the Word always comes in the right time.  

This event should remind us to guard against superficial acclaim for Christ.

YOUR EITHER SERVE THE LORD OR YOU DON'T!

THERE IS NO IN-BETWEEN.