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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 15, 2008 Spread Your Garments Before Him! |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, March 15, 2008 by Don Kress
Text for the Day: Matthew 21: 4-11 – This was to bring about what the prophet has said: “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Your king is coming to you. He is gentle and riding on a donkey, on the colt of a donkey.’” The followers went and did what Jesus told them to do. They brought the donkey and the colt to Jesus and laid their coats on them, and Jesus sat on them. Many people spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The people were walking ahead of Jesus and behind him, shouting, “Praise to the Son of David! God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise to God in heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, all the city was filled with excitement. The people asked, “Who is this man?” The crowd said, “This man is Jesus, the prophet from the town of Nazareth in Galilee.” (New Century Version)
Today begins the week known as Holy or Passion Week, a week that has been described by some as the most intense and important week in history. For me, this is a roller coaster week of acute emotion as we go from Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to the humility of foot washing and the solemnity of the Last Supper, then to the anguish and pain of Gethsemane and Golgotha, and finally to the exhilaration of Christ’s Resurrection. It’s a week in which we should experience and contemplate what Jesus Christ willingly did for us and for our salvation.
No one knows for sure how many times Jesus visited Jerusalem during his ministry. The Gospel of Mark records only this one visit, while John reports four visits. Most Bible scholars think it is likely that Jesus had been to Jerusalem several times during his public ministry. Since they are not well recorded, I believe that we can assume that his previous entries into the Holy City were in an unobtrusive manner. But this time his entrance into the home of the Jewish religious leaders is decisive and deliberate, pressing his claim as King upon the city of the King. Many people believe that, by entering Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus was displaying his meekness. In reality, he was declaring his Kingship. At that time in history, when a king entered the city of another king, he did so by either riding a horse or a donkey. The horse was the animal of war; the donkey was the animal of peace. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on this day, he was presenting himself as a King while symbolizing that he was coming in peace.
Today Christ rides into Jerusalem as a King, and the crowd around him responds accordingly. He was known as the giver of wisdom and the healer of the sick. Some believed him to be a prophet; others believed that he was the Messiah, expecting him to free them of the Roman yoke. The people were lifted on a tide of hope and joy, and they reacted with shouts of praise, and showed honor by spreading palm branches and their garments on the road before him. As this week progresses we will watch the people realize that Jesus is not there to overthrow the Romans; and as he offends the religious leaders, their shouts of “Hosanna” will turn to shouts of “Crucify him!” But for today, let’s recognize him as the King that we know he is. Let’s spread our garments before him – garments of mind, heart, skill, talent, possessions, and service.
Prayer: All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. The multitude of pilgrims with palms before you went, our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present. Their praises you accepted; accept the prayers we bring, Great Author of all goodness, O good and gracious King. All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. Amen. (Hymn 109; LBW)
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