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Read Luke 19:28-48
The donkey
Behold your king!
Declared king Matthew 21:5
Jesus was born king.See Matthew
2:2 & John 18:37 He had the right to rule the world he created. But he chooses to
share our humanity and live as a commoner.
He is recognised by Nathanael
as the king in John 1:49 but he avoids attempts to make him King in John 6:15.
He knew that our understanding of kingship is coloured by the culture we live
in.
In his day they were despotic, self-seeking , using murder and
intrigue to stay in power. They saw the population as a means of production for
their benefit. So today when we see the G20 living it up, we must consciously
turn away from their glowing words and look and listen to the Saviour.
So what are the differences between Jesus and the G20?
Security
10
Downing Street, etc.
saving
the economics and saving the lives
Jesus is not the one to bring the utopia where greed and selfishness rule. He maintained no army because he rules in the hearts of those who choose his rule. He comes as a Saviour of his people first, their leader second. He gives up his live so that you might live. It is no wonder that today we celebrate
The Praise Party
Hosanna! Blessed is he who
comes on the name of the Lord! This is a day of real joy. Jesus is about to
bring salvation. Welcome the king into your life today! Let’s be active in our
response today !
The Challenges
The responses of the authorities reflect the responses of the
secularists and many others in power today.
SHUT UP!. First he is asked to
silence his disciples! The first reaction was and is “ I don’t want to know! I
don’t want to be disturbed! Go away, leave me in my misery! You only cause
division and strife! Believe if you must but don’t make waves! In Matthew the children caught on to the
idea of praising God for Jesus and were having fun in the temple. Which reminds
us that Jesus was for children and in the house of prayer was in his view a place that it was alright for the children to play and made a noise.
Then Jesus weeps over Jerusalem; He knew what horrors were about
to happen. If you don’t know what happened in AD 70 read Josephus. God does not
want people in hell. His love is so great, Jesus weeps over the city, which was
about to murder him.
The Temple traders were a
necessary part of the economics of the modern society. They made the
sacrificial system tick. It was not that they were wrong to trade in the sheep
from Bethlehem so that worshippers could make sacrifice, but in doing so they
had taken up the place of prayer for the gentiles and the place for the
children to be annoying. In this recession, beware that in your attempts to
survive, your prayer life does not go by the board. In all our getting, it is
too easy for us to leave out the important things in life, our relationship
with God and our relationship with our family. That is why God said “Six days
work, one days rest”. Then you have to plan to use the seventh day to be with
the family, relax but also spend time in the temple of the heavenly place. That
will be here but also I hope you have spent time already or have planned to
spend time with God alone today.
The final challenge is that of the authorities final solution – to
kill Jesus. When Jesus faces up to them, he is in a garden, and he does not run
or call out the angelic battle fleet, he submits to the suffering and the pain
and the abuse so that you might know peace with God.
The cross
The cost of our salvation
casts a shadow over all of Jesus’ life. It thankfully dominates our lives
to. Jesus accepts the praise of his
disciples, knowing that they would desert him. He accepts your praise knowing
that you will let him down. He loved the world, so much that he gave himself
that you and I might live. Our failure is failure but he does not reject us for
it, he died for our sins that we might live for him. He seeks us out that we
might receive his forgiveness, his life and his Spirit.
In summary -
Your King has come.
The question is, simply what
are you doing about it? You can either accept or reject his kingship. He will
weep for you if you reject him because he loves you. If you receive him, his
death becomes your salvation. His life becomes your life. Not just for this
short time on earth but for eternity. For now receive the Holy Spirit and look
forward to eternal life with him in heaven.