Introduction

Welcome, my dear friends. How wonderful it is to gather together in the name of our Lord, to seek His wisdom, to bask in His love, to marvel at the depth of His mercy, and to find solace in His promises. Today, we stand on the threshold of a profound spiritual experience as we turn our hearts and minds toward Matthew 21:1-17.

Let me share these verses with you: "As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.' This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 'Say to Daughter Zion, See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Hosanna in the highest heaven!' When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is this?' The crowds answered, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.' Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' he said to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.' The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, 'Hosanna to the Son of David,' they were indignant. 'Do you hear what these children are saying?' they asked him. 'Yes,' replied Jesus, 'have you never read, From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?'"

As we ponder these words, let us remember the wise words of Charles Spurgeon, "A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't." Let that be us, friends. Let us be the people whose Bibles are well-thumbed and well-loved, whose lives are firmly grounded in the Word of God.

Now, let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Word. As we read and reflect on the verses from Matthew, open our hearts and minds to the truths they contain. Help us to understand the magnitude of Your love, the depth of Your wisdom, and the power of Your healing. May we be like the crowds who recognized Jesus as the Messiah, shouting praises and acknowledging His kingship. May we also be like the children in the temple, innocent and full of faith, unafraid to proclaim Your glory. Guide us, Lord, as we seek to apply Your teachings in our lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Prophesied Messiah Praised

In the passage from Matthew, we find Jesus approaching Jerusalem, a momentous event that had been foretold by prophets centuries before. The significance of this event is profound. Jesus, the promised Messiah, is entering the city where He will ultimately fulfill His divine mission. He rides in on a donkey, a humble and peaceful animal, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. This is a clear sign of His kingship, yet it is a kingship unlike any the world has known.

The people of Jerusalem recognized this. They spread their cloaks on the road, a sign of respect and submission to a king. They cut branches from the trees, a symbol of victory and triumph, and laid them on the road. The crowd shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" These were not just random shouts of joy. They were declarations of faith, acknowledgments of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of David, the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Yet, the praise of the people was not just for the man Jesus. It was for the fulfillment of God's promise. The people were not just welcoming a king; they were welcoming the reign of God's love, mercy, and justice. They were welcoming the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams, the answer to their prayers, the end of their waiting.

In the midst of this triumphant entry, Jesus remained humble and gentle. He did not come as a conquering hero on a warhorse, but as a servant on a donkey. He did not come to establish an earthly kingdom by force, but a heavenly kingdom through love.

The praise of the people was not just a response to the person of Jesus, but to the work of God in and through Him. They recognized in Jesus the fulfillment of God's promises, the embodiment of God's love, the manifestation of God's power. They saw in Him not just a king, but the King of kings, not just a lord, but the Lord of lords.

The praise of the people was not just a momentary outburst of joy, but a profound expression of faith. They believed in Jesus, trusted in His words, and followed His teachings. They saw in Him the hope of their salvation, the light of their life, the joy of their heart.

The praise of the people was not just a personal act of devotion, but a communal act of worship. They praised Jesus together, as a community of believers, as a body of Christ. They shared in His joy, participated in His mission, and became part of His story.