Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
"Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey's colt."
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
~ John 12:14-16 (NKJV)
A crowd gathered for the high holy days of Passover certainly contained people wearing their best cloaks. Yet they willingly laid them across the road to be tread upon by a donkey. Their shouts of "King of Israel" surely fell upon the ears of Roman soldiers. After six centuries of waiting for another son of David to sit upon Israel's throne, their expectations of Jesus surely matched their bold actions.
Did any of them actually think of King David? He likewise threw off his king's cloak, dressed himself in the attire of the ministers, and praised "with all his might" as Jerusalem welcomed the Ark of the Covenant—the presence of Most High King entering His city.
Did the Palm Sunday crowd understand that they welcomed not only royalty but divinity?
If His disciples didn't understand the significance of their actions (as John's Gospel says), perhaps walking with the Son of God had become ordinary to them.
I daresay that each of us reaches the point where walking with Jesus becomes a little too ordinary. Perhaps it is inevitable that such times occur upon the approaches to a personal Calvary. When we again face the altar, where something else must die, we cannot help but offer sacrifice, and then worship anew our Lord who is God and King.
You are holy, Lord, enthroned in the praises of Your people. Renew our love and recognition for You daily. Please invite our worship. Please give us strength of joy in sacrifice.
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Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Amen.
ReplyDeleteI love you, Denise.
Deletethat's really something to think about Anne. this reminded me of W. Nee's statement that nearly every physical act has a spiritual significance in His Word. to think that dying to self is like laying down the cloak for our King/Lord is really a neat way to think about it. your posts remind me of Nee often because i really have to think/consider them! \o/
ReplyDeleteBud, I feel certain that our every action has spiritual significance. I am also confident that our spiritual life profoundly influences our physical well being. We are wholly physical creatures, and wholly spiritual creatures. We simply have too little awareness of the spiritual, and too much awareness of the physical.
DeleteI hope to be refreshed today knowing that my God is so much more than ordinary, but willed himself to come among, between, amidst, and loving the ordinary among us.
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
Wendy, can you imagine how extraordinary all our moments must be to our anything-but-ordinary God? And you, my dear, are most definitely extraordinary, in the very best way. I'm privileged and blessed to have you in my life. :D
DeleteI think we all get on a rollercoaster ride when it comes to our faith. Sometimes we just need a personal revival to get going again.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about faith being a roller coaster ride, Eddy. I'm glad that personal revival is both an act of God and something we can invite. Thank God that He does not leave us helpless when we need to get going again!
DeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteTHANKS for the "Love it!" It made my day when you sent it, and again today. :D
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