"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: John 12:12-14

 April 9

"The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Hail to the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” - John 12:12-14 (NLT)

While this passage describes actions Jesus took on what we now call "Palm Sunday", the event John describes actually happened on a Monday. Yet it is a scripture that speaks to us at any time offering a profound truth that God can come to us in humble ways and surprising places. No one would ever have expected the Messiah and King of Israel to appear as a lowly Galilean riding on a donkey! Would it not be more logical for the Lord to appear on a fine white stallion or magnificent war horse? Yet Jesus chose to begin his last week on earth by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey in fulfillment of an ancient prophecy predicting, "Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt." (Zechariah 9:9)

Waving palm branches, crowds hailed him as "King". Yet the people who praised God for sending a Messiah had wrong ideas about Jesus. They were sure he would be a national leader who would eliminate their enemies and restore Israel to former glory. Because of wrong expectations, they misunderstood the meaning of their divine visitation and were deaf to understanding the prophecies because they were blind to Jesus' real mission. Thank God we can now celebrate the fact that Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem was as the "King of All Peace" who came to this earth to deliver us from hate and war. May we remain open to the present reality that God still chooses unexpected ways and places to visit us today!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for being a King of Peace Amen.

Meditation For The Day: Where am I seeing Jesus today?

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)