March 16, 2016

HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST!

Matthew 21:1–11

Gina Joyce
Wednesday's Devo

March 16, 2016

Wednesday's Devo

March 16, 2016

Central Truth

Everything the Bible says is absolutely true.

Key Verse | Matthew 21:4–5

This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
(Matthew 21:4-5)

Matthew 21:1–11

The Triumphal Entry

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
    on a colt, 1 21:5 Or donkey, and on a colt the foal of a beast of burden.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Footnotes

[1] 21:5 Or donkey, and on a colt

Dive Deeper | Matthew 21:1–11

Throughout my childhood, I remember receiving palm branches as we left the Palm Sunday service. The branches served as a reminder to us of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem the weekend before the Easter Bunny would show up.

As a God-fearing woman of faith today, I am fascinated by the parade in which the people of Jerusalem witnessed Jesus Christ the King arriving as a gentle servant on the back of a donkey. All of this to fulfill prophecy recorded in Zechariah 9:9: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humbled and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

God’s living Word continues to provide me with truth threaded from cover to cover. The Old Testament prophets, guided by God’s will, reveal prophecy; then, in the New Testament, what He promised is (or will be) fulfilled. In this case, His Word goes one step better. Revelation 19 promises that, instead of riding on a donkey, our Sovereign King will return as a Warrior on a White Horse, which gives us Truth, Power, and HOPE.

As I study God’s Word, I am comforted by knowing His truth, power, and hope in HIS living Word. In story after story, example after example, God's people continually try to do it on their own, but eventually fall short. Daily, I ask God to open my eyes to the parade of truth into my heart so that I may, with His grace, grow to be more like Him.

Discussion Questions

1. What misconceptions of God and Jesus did you grow up with, and how has your current faith helped you to change to know the grace of our Savior and to trust in Him and not the Easter Bunny?

2. Can you think of a time in your life when you were taught the truth, but had to figure it out on your own, only to look back years later and see and understand the “prophecy”?

3. What do you do to control your future? Stock report, weather report, horoscope? How have those "predictors" shown you Who really controls your future?