Preparing Our Hearts for Easter: Day 31

An article by Frank    No Comments

In the lead up to Easter we will be putting up a new lent devotion each week day. These devotions will also be available in the discussions section of our Facebook page and will be played on New Zealand’s Rhema.

In the account of Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 21, we are given a dramatic story – Jesus enters the city on a humble donkey, is hailed as a King, a descendant of the revered king David. The people are probably imagining that the Roman Empire will be expelled from their land and Jesus is the man who is going to do it.

The first thing he does after entering the city in this account is to go to the temple. There his anger burns at what he sees – driving out all who were selling and buying, overturning the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. His anger was burning against those who stopped the temple from being used for what it was intended – a place to draw near to God – a house of prayer.

In verse 14 of Matthew, this account also adds that the blind and lame then came to him in the temple and he healed them. The people flocked to him and hailed him as the son of David, the one who had been promised to them to set them free. This inspired the anger of the religious leaders – they were threatened by him.

This is the king who entered the city on a humble donkey. This is the king who drew the lame and sick to himself. This is the king who not long after, would have the people calling for his blood when he was seen not to be fitting the image of an earthly king. This is the king whose desire was to draw people near to the Father. This is the king that we follow.

If this is our King then we must look at this picture of the humble King, the King who raged at those who created barriers to God, the King who drew the sick and the lame and we must ask ourselves, what it does it mean for us to follow, imitate and live like our King? It is that question I ask you to contemplate today. Today I offer no answers, only the question.

Pray

Jesus, as we contemplate what it means to follow you as our King, to imitate your example – shape our thoughts and reflections.

Amen