Sunday - April 10
Over the course of this week, we will be coming alongside Christians all over the world as we observe Holy Week. This is an opportunity to take a deeper look into the final days of Jesus’ life before the crucifixion. Instead of reading these passages again and growing numb to hearing the same text, consider the fact our God’s word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). God in His grandeur and infinite wisdom is using the Gospel story to inform our daily lives. We encourage you to notice how the Holy Spirit will provide revelation as to how His story intertwines with yours. With the victory of Resurrection Sunday in sight, we move forward in the text with anticipation.
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
SCRIPTURE
John 12:12-19; Matthew 21:1-11; Zachariah 9:9-13
OBSERVATION
Just before Jesus’ entrance, He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11), and scripture says many of the Jews believed He was the Son of Man because of this act (John 12:11). While some had chosen to worship and adore with grand gestures of cloaks and palm branches laid before Jesus, there were those that turned and posted themselves in opposition, giving fuel to the flames toward the plot to kill. As the Jewish people watched Jesus ride into Jerusalem, their anticipation and longing for a mighty king seemed to be fulfilled, as prophesied by Zachariah. Historically, a king or army commander would ride through a town on a magnificent horse, yet this man came in humility and a posture of abounding peace by riding in on a donkey. Imagine the expectation of a great political leader coming to reign victorious met with the great curiosity of how this would be done in peace according to the prophesy. Over 500 years of this tension all to have reached the brink of fulfillment in this moment.
Imagine yourself in the background of the story. Perhaps as a member of the crowd. The excitement and curiosity pulsing through each person with an energy that is vibrating the very breath you are taking. You’ve just laid your own cloak and palm branch on the hot desert path, and you take a step back into line with the crowd. You begin to shout with all your might in unison with everyone else as Jesus nears. Suddenly, He makes eye contact with you as He passes on the donkey. What do you think? Does your heart skip a beat and your stomach drop all in the same millisecond? Now reflect on your own walk with Jesus. Has He connected with your gaze before? Did you recognize who He was with the same anticipation for deliverance? What are you coming into this week with that you are desiring the Lord to conquer on your behalf? Scripture says that we have the ability to come to the Father with boldness in prayer (Hebrews 4:16).
PRAY
Finish your time seeking the Lord and His will over your circumstance.
