Lenten Devotion for 12 April 2011 Anno Domini

Lenten Devotion for 12 April 2011 Anno Domini
12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. 18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. (John 12:12-19)

The curiosity of the expectant crowds gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Unleavened Bread are keen to be satisfied in seeing this Person, Jesus. For a very long time, I have wanted to use the term “Awesome’ to describe my Lord, but I cannot! The low point of esteem into which this word has sunk in the modern and vulgar vernacular makes it unsuitable as an adjective to describe the King of King and Lord of Lords. In our day, a beautiful woman is called ‘awesome.’ No woman or man is ‘awesome!’ Sports champions, though they may be great, do not deserve the modern label of ‘awesome.’ There is only ONE to whom the adjective could be appropriately ascribed, and that is Christ! And Christ is the only ONE today to whom the modern use cannot be used! Amazing how we have allowed our vocabulary of good words to be misappropriated and assigned new meaning. “Gay’ used to mean happy and carefree. ‘Cool’ at one time, referred to environmental conditions. ‘Bad’ at one time did not mean ‘Good.’ So, instead of ‘awesome’, I will refer to Christ as all-awe-inspiring! For that is exactly what Christ is to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see.

The tradition of laying down palm tree branches before a conquering hero began some two hundred years earlier as Judas Maccabeus entered Jerusalem after vanquishing Antiochus Epiphanes! Now, they believe another military conqueror is entering Jerusalem – one who can restore the dead to life, create bread sufficient for the nation, heal of all illnesses, and subdue empires. They had not studied enough or they would have realized that Christ was precisely that Person, but much more. Not only could He create perishable bread, but He could, as well, provide the IMPERISHABLE Bread of Life. Not only could He raise the dead, but He could grant eternal life to all who believed. Not only could He conquer empires, but He was King of Kings and Lord of Heaven! The throngs who greeted Christ at the gates of Jerusalem blind goats who five days later would be shouting – not “Hosanna” – but “Crucify Him!” They had tried, and failed, to make Christ into THEIR kind of God and Savior! I am mystified to realize that He still loved them, and continued on His mission of humiliation and death for them, and for us! When Christ looks upon the sinning hordes, He does not see a faceless mob – He sees OUR face, OUR heart. Though that heart may be empty and void of love, He knows what He shall make of it in due course in Calling, Choosing, and Electing THAT heart, perhaps years hence. Man cannot see as Christ sees. Man’s thoughts are not the thoughts of Christ. When I was often a naughty little boy, Christ did not regard me as lost. Though others around me scolded and judged me, Christ KNEW me. He saw what He would do in my life in future years. And so with all who come to Christ. He receives all who come, and He forsakes none. Even when we are under a death sentence, taken red-handed in adultery, He knows how to make whole.

“And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon” – the impact of this truth escaped the minds of the crowds outside the gate, even the minds of the disciples until after Christ had been glorified. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” (Zech 9:9) This prophecy was uttered more than 500 years earlier. God speaks clearly to us His Mind and Thoughts, yet we too often fail to understand them.
“The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.” For some, faith must be visually proven. For the true believer, truth is evidence in itself. Those who witnessed the raising of Lazarus bare record to all they met. This caused a great and popular interest among the people of Jerusalem, and a great misery for the religious and secular interest. Horatius Bonar (1808-1889) describes three types of seeking to see Christ: “(1) Herod who desired more than once to see Him (Luke 9:9, 13:8). His was curiosity that came to nothing. How many Herods are there! (2) Zaccheus. He sought to see Jesus who He was. His curiosity came to something. It ended in a visit of Jesus Himself. There are Zaccheuses, too, whose first inquiries are vague—but who are led on by the Spirit to Jesus. (3) The Greeks, These seem to have been farther on than Zaccheus in their inquiries. Theirs was more than curiosity; it was the earnest longing of men who had got a glimpse of Him. We have Greeks, too, in our day; men whose souls God has touched, and across whose eyes He has flashed some rays of the glory of his Incarnate Son. Are there any Greeks among us? Rest not; keep not aloof; come near; learn of Him; look to Him and be saved. For thus it is that the far-off Gentile is brought near; and the Greek becomes a Son of Abraham.” I imagine that the important point is “How far do we seek to know Him?” If we come to Him, and Love Him, our curiosities cannot be satisfied in a lifetime of diligent study!
“The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.” The manipulators of tyranny over the minds of men can never come to terms with Christ. The fact that He heals and raises the dead is not an asset to such men but, rather, a detriment. So they must destroy Him or perish. Of course, it is they who perish as do all other enemies of God. Whose side are you on this Lenten Season?