March to the Cross

Monday, March 29 Jesus: King of Israel

Focus: In Jerusalem, Jesus is whole-heartedly (albeit momentarily) celebrated as the people’s king.

Today’s verses:

Zechariah 9:9 …Behold your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humbled and mounted on a donkey, even a coat the foal of a donkey.

Mark 11:1 And they approached Jerusalem, at Bethpage and Bethlehem, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.

John 12:13 …they went out to meet Him and began to cry out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”

John 12:35 Jesus therefore said to them, “For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk in the light that the darkness might not overtake you.”

Can you put yourself in this scene described in John 12:13? News of Jesus performing the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead had been spreading in the community of Jerusalem. Although the people in this community worshiped God, they didn’t fully understand Christ’s mission. Hallelujah! Everyone was lined up along the road waving palm branches to celebrate this earthly king that would save them from the oppressive Roman empire. In other words they were not necessarily seeing the BIG picture of Jesus saving our souls, defeating the power of sin and death. His mission was so much bigger than their eyes could see!

What about you? Imagine yourself waving palm branches with the cheering crowd as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. What are your thoughts and emotions of the humble King passing before you?

For further reading: John 12:1-19, 44-46

Dear King of Kings,

We are grateful to be on the other side of the day You were raised from the dead, having the BIG picture of why You came. Let us not for one minute take any of this lightly. As we enter into this particular week in the year 2021, remind us of the sacrifice You made on behalf of all undeserving sinners like ourselves. Hallelujah! You came to defeat satan and freely give us eternal life with YOU! Give us a clear picture of what this original Holy week looked like. Put us in the shoes of these people that so long ago saw the humble king riding in on a donkey with each event following until the tomb was opened and You were resurrected. Impress upon our hearts that without this “march to the cross” followed by death and resurrection, everyone of our lives would be lost. Amen