We are living in world that is rapidly changing, sometimes hour by hour.
Rules and regulations from government, health and safety advice, food, work and travel is constant change.
At this point in time, we have to go through a police checkpoint that is manned by state emergency service and army personnel. If we do not have written documentation from government to say we can pass, we get turned around – we are not allowed to our nearest food shops or the metro area.
Public opinion has swiftly changed from that of freedom to that of quarantine (and anger at those who refuse). The economy is starting to suffer, unemployment is on the rise, meetings of more than two people are banned and strict social distancing measures are being enforced.
Society in general is uneasy, fearful and angry at times. There are many unknowns and huge changes for people in many areas. Restriction of movement. Restriction of relationship. Restriction by the governing forces.
The situation is very similar to that of Jerusalem around 2000 years ago, when Romans ruled the area. The Jews were restricted and unhappy. There was fear and anger. There were uprisings. For them though, there was the promise a Messiah – a deliverer – someone to rescue them.
Promised by God hundreds of years earlier, the people grew restless in their current confinement. They couldn’t see an end in sight. They desperately wanted to be free.
This was the backdrop to an extraordinary event. On this day, likely the year AD37, an obscure Jew, whose fame was growing, entered Jerusalem.
We can read the account:
Luke 19:35-40 (NLT) 35 So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.
36 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.
38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”
39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”
40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
John 12:12-19 (NLT) The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:
15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.
Look, your King is coming,
riding on a donkey’s colt.”
16 His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.
17 Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. 18 That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”
An incredible event! People flocked and waved palm branches – the Jewish national flag so to speak. The atmosphere would have been electric!
There is little doubt that the Jews who lined the road likely had the wrong idea about this ‘Messiah’ however. They wanted rescuing from the Romans, the perceived threat and enslavement. And they thought they knew how this would happen, popularity and violence. But they were wrong on both counts.
This Messiah was not there to bring war against the Romans (Gentiles), quite the opposite. He brought a message of hope that included the Jews and the Gentiles (Romans and others) equally.
He didn’t agree to violence, instead giving healing to those who were injured. He came into Jerusalem as a King – but not one at war on a horse, but on a noble but humble donkey.
And He didn’t come to defeat Roman rule – He came to free the Jews, and the Romans, and us, from something far stronger, longer lasting, prominent and condemning.
He came to rescue people from being slaves of sin! Here was the spotless Lamb of God, entering Jerusalem on the very day that Jews were picking their own perfect, blemish free lamb for the passover sacrifice. God was effectively saying: “Here is My choice as the perfect lamb to take away the sins of the world” How powerful!!
Now this reality, this offer, was far more important – being holy should have been their top priority. But it was their own position that they held dear.
Their eternal destination should have been first & foremost on their minds, but their current restrictions and lifestyle was were their focus was.
Just. Like. Us.
Just a week later – these people that gave up their coats, their status, their public allegiance and risked government condemnation, left Jesus and chanted “Crucify Him”. They preferred a violent criminal, likely one who was trying to defeat the Romans, over God’s own Son, their true King and Messiah.
They missed Him because they were looking for something that they thought was a better solution.
Jesus came to be obedient to God the Father. He came in complete humility to serve and willingly gave up His life for others. He turned the other cheek and submitted to the supposed evil rulers of the day. He knew what was coming & how the Romans would be defeated. He knew it was all in the Fathers hand.
Do you?
Are you trusting in the One true God? Or do you have a different idea of what is needed right now for your life and society in general?
Is Jesus your King?
If you want to find out answer the below questions for yourself honestly…
Who is the King of your life?
Who is it you want to impress?
Whose opinion matters to you the most?
Who it it you reverently fear – fear enough to obey?
Who do you serve on a daily basis?
Who do you like to be with?
Is it your partner, Kids, Friends, Work colleagues, Boss, Follwoers? Or is it God?
Where do you go first for your perspective on truth / reality?
The ‘news’, doctors, social media, gurus, teachers etc? Or God’s Word?
Where do you put your energy?
Where do you spend most of your time?
Where do you like to be?
What activity do you gravitate to for enjoyment / rest?
What leaves you feeling good?
For most of us, the answers start to reveal that our hope, trust, fulfilment is not in Him who alone is able to give us the security, love, peace, joy and wisdom that we need.
We read a scripture the other day:
Matthew 6:19-24 (NLT) Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
22 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
The parallel verse in Luke, shares a little more…
Luke 12:31-34 (NLT)
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Sobering words, for sobering times. But really, if the current situation highlights that we are missing God and we turn to Him – the result is GOOD! Just like He promises.
Do not fear – recognise Jesus as your King on this powerful day!
Lord, may we see Your purpose, Your plan and Your heart no matter what is going on around us. May we recognise the way You are working and respond by coming closer to You. May we be able to trust fully in You – to rest in genuine and complete peace because of who You are and the love You have for us. May we connect with the security we have because fo what You did on the cross 2000 years ago. Thank you for being willing to give Your own Son for us and may we be willing too – to serve in freedom.
NOTES
John 8:34-36 (NLT) “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
John 1:29 (NLT) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Romans 6:6-23 (NLT) We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
Freed from Sin’s Power to Serve Righteousness
15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.