June 20 - 21, 2012
Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling what the prophets said in Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9. The people were excited. Here was their long awaited earthly king—or so they thought.
They still did not understand. They thought He was a great prophet and king, an answer to their immediate problems, when actually He came to be the answer for all eternity. When He arrived in Jerusalem He went to the temple. God had given specific instructions on how to build and use the temple. It was to be a place of prayer and personal gifts, commitments, and sacrifices to God. The rules had purpose and meaning. But now, it was no longer about a personal relationship and a sacrificial heart. It was about ritual only. You didn't bring your own gifts and sacrifices. No, you just went and bought a dove or two and gave that. It no longer had meaning. It required no personal commitment. Just a "been there—done that" ritual.
Jesus made it clear how much He despised that kind of thinking, attitude, and actions. He threw over the tables and removed those trying to profit off of what was supposed to be gifts to God. Once the temple was cleared of the evil, then Jesus began to heal the blind and crippled. The Pharisees and leaders saw the wonderful things Jesus was doing and witnessed the children praising Him. All they saw and heard made them very angry. They were the experts in the law, so Jesus asks them, "Haven't you read the Scriptures?" and then he quotes Psalm 8:2 - "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." (Emphasis mine) Praise—the most important thing Jane (Her Name Was Jane) taught us. Not only does it bring you into a closer understanding and communion with God, it also silences the foe and the avenger.
The next day, as Jesus was walking back to the city, He passed a fig tree that was without fruit. Jesus said to it, "You will never again have fruit"... and the tree dried up. The disciples were amazed. Matthew 21:21–22 - Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to this tree and even more. You will be able to say to this mountain, 'Go, fall into the sea.' And if you have faith it will happen. If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer."
Our lives are to produce fruit. That is what God designed and called us to do. If we are not producing fruit then our lives are worthless in furthering God's kingdom, and we are in danger of being removed from His presence. IF—we believe, THEN—He will answer and He will give us the desires of our hearts. This isn't saying you can do whatever you want and demand what you want. No, when our desire is to serve, obey, and please God, then our desires line up with the heart of God, and our prayers will be in keeping with HIS word. IF—we do that, THEN—He will hear and will answer our prayers because we will want what HE wants. Our will is aligned with His.
The leaders and priests just could not accept that Jesus was God/man. They tested Him. They tried to trick Him. They did everything they could to oppose Him. Even when they knew He was talking about them and to them, they still refused to accept His teachings and acknowledge Him as LORD. Refused. They were so focused on trying to "get" Him that they totally refused to listen to Him. Jesus told them two parables. The first was a story about two sons. The first son refused to obey but later changed his mind and followed his father's orders. The second son "said" he would obey but never followed through with his commitment and did not follow his father's commands. Jesus asked them, "Which son obeyed his father?" They replied, "The first son." Jesus compared their actions to that of the second son. "Even after seeing this, you still refused to change your ways and believe him."
Then Jesus tells the story about a man who owned a vineyard. He protected it; he watched over it; he did everything to make it the best possible. When he left for a trip he leased the land to some farmers. When it was time for the harvest he sent his servants for his share of the grapes. But the farmers didn't want to lose any of the profit. They wanted it all for themselves, so they beat one of the servants the owner sent and killed two of the others. So the owner sent even more servants the second time. He gave them a second chance, but they responded in the same way. So, the owner decided to send his own son thinking, "They will respect my son." But when the farmers saw the son they not only didn't want to lose a portions of the profits, they realized they could lose the whole vineyard because the son would inherit the land. They said, "If we kill him it will be ours." So they grabbed the son, threw him out, and killed him. Then Jesus asked the priests and leaders, "So what will the owner of the vineyard do to these farmers when he comes?" The priests and leaders answered, "He will surely kill those evil men. Then he will lease the vineyard to some other farmers who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time." Then Jesus said, "Surely you have read this in the scriptures."
The leaders and priests knew Hwas talking about them, but they didn't change their hearts and lives. They instead wanted to have Him arrested, but held back because they were afraid of the people's reaction since the people believed Jesus was a prophet. They were faced with truth, but just would not surrender.
Jesus, as a "stone" is described in three different ways.
Addendum: 1/1/16 ~ Our God pays attention to details. There are no maybes, ifs, or happenstance situations with God. As I went back and was reading Matthew 21 this morning I was struck again by God's attention to detail.
Jesus told his disciples to, "Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will quickly find a donkey tied there with its colt. Untie them and bring them to me...." He didn't say to go and try to find a donkey, to search the alley ways and streets and to find someone who will let you do what I am telling you to do. No, He gave clear directions. This is where you should go; this is what you will find; this is what will happen.
We often don't know the "details" in the trials we face in life, but God does. HE HAS IT UNDER CONTROL! That "trial" you are facing really can become a "trail"—an opportunity to follow the ONE who has it all under control.
Our faith remains in HIM!
Next Entry: Matthew 22:1–46
Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling what the prophets said in Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9. The people were excited. Here was their long awaited earthly king—or so they thought.
They still did not understand. They thought He was a great prophet and king, an answer to their immediate problems, when actually He came to be the answer for all eternity. When He arrived in Jerusalem He went to the temple. God had given specific instructions on how to build and use the temple. It was to be a place of prayer and personal gifts, commitments, and sacrifices to God. The rules had purpose and meaning. But now, it was no longer about a personal relationship and a sacrificial heart. It was about ritual only. You didn't bring your own gifts and sacrifices. No, you just went and bought a dove or two and gave that. It no longer had meaning. It required no personal commitment. Just a "been there—done that" ritual.
Jesus made it clear how much He despised that kind of thinking, attitude, and actions. He threw over the tables and removed those trying to profit off of what was supposed to be gifts to God. Once the temple was cleared of the evil, then Jesus began to heal the blind and crippled. The Pharisees and leaders saw the wonderful things Jesus was doing and witnessed the children praising Him. All they saw and heard made them very angry. They were the experts in the law, so Jesus asks them, "Haven't you read the Scriptures?" and then he quotes Psalm 8:2 - "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." (Emphasis mine) Praise—the most important thing Jane (Her Name Was Jane) taught us. Not only does it bring you into a closer understanding and communion with God, it also silences the foe and the avenger.
The next day, as Jesus was walking back to the city, He passed a fig tree that was without fruit. Jesus said to it, "You will never again have fruit"... and the tree dried up. The disciples were amazed. Matthew 21:21–22 - Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to this tree and even more. You will be able to say to this mountain, 'Go, fall into the sea.' And if you have faith it will happen. If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer."
Our lives are to produce fruit. That is what God designed and called us to do. If we are not producing fruit then our lives are worthless in furthering God's kingdom, and we are in danger of being removed from His presence. IF—we believe, THEN—He will answer and He will give us the desires of our hearts. This isn't saying you can do whatever you want and demand what you want. No, when our desire is to serve, obey, and please God, then our desires line up with the heart of God, and our prayers will be in keeping with HIS word. IF—we do that, THEN—He will hear and will answer our prayers because we will want what HE wants. Our will is aligned with His.
The leaders and priests just could not accept that Jesus was God/man. They tested Him. They tried to trick Him. They did everything they could to oppose Him. Even when they knew He was talking about them and to them, they still refused to accept His teachings and acknowledge Him as LORD. Refused. They were so focused on trying to "get" Him that they totally refused to listen to Him. Jesus told them two parables. The first was a story about two sons. The first son refused to obey but later changed his mind and followed his father's orders. The second son "said" he would obey but never followed through with his commitment and did not follow his father's commands. Jesus asked them, "Which son obeyed his father?" They replied, "The first son." Jesus compared their actions to that of the second son. "Even after seeing this, you still refused to change your ways and believe him."
Then Jesus tells the story about a man who owned a vineyard. He protected it; he watched over it; he did everything to make it the best possible. When he left for a trip he leased the land to some farmers. When it was time for the harvest he sent his servants for his share of the grapes. But the farmers didn't want to lose any of the profit. They wanted it all for themselves, so they beat one of the servants the owner sent and killed two of the others. So the owner sent even more servants the second time. He gave them a second chance, but they responded in the same way. So, the owner decided to send his own son thinking, "They will respect my son." But when the farmers saw the son they not only didn't want to lose a portions of the profits, they realized they could lose the whole vineyard because the son would inherit the land. They said, "If we kill him it will be ours." So they grabbed the son, threw him out, and killed him. Then Jesus asked the priests and leaders, "So what will the owner of the vineyard do to these farmers when he comes?" The priests and leaders answered, "He will surely kill those evil men. Then he will lease the vineyard to some other farmers who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time." Then Jesus said, "Surely you have read this in the scriptures."
"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." Psalm 118:22–23"So I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to people who do the things God wants in his kingdom. The person who falls on this stone will be broken, and on whom ever that stone falls, that person will be crushed." (Matthew 21:43–44)
The leaders and priests knew Hwas talking about them, but they didn't change their hearts and lives. They instead wanted to have Him arrested, but held back because they were afraid of the people's reaction since the people believed Jesus was a prophet. They were faced with truth, but just would not surrender.
Jesus, as a "stone" is described in three different ways.
- A cornerstone—someone to build your life upon.
- A stumbling stone—someone who doesn't fit what you think He should be, or do what you think He should do. He doesn't fit your mold, so you decide to find your own way, and you end up tripping over what God puts in your path.
- A crushing stone—someone who avenges and administers justice to those who refuse to believe and surrender themselves to Him.
Addendum: 1/1/16 ~ Our God pays attention to details. There are no maybes, ifs, or happenstance situations with God. As I went back and was reading Matthew 21 this morning I was struck again by God's attention to detail.
Jesus told his disciples to, "Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will quickly find a donkey tied there with its colt. Untie them and bring them to me...." He didn't say to go and try to find a donkey, to search the alley ways and streets and to find someone who will let you do what I am telling you to do. No, He gave clear directions. This is where you should go; this is what you will find; this is what will happen.
We often don't know the "details" in the trials we face in life, but God does. HE HAS IT UNDER CONTROL! That "trial" you are facing really can become a "trail"—an opportunity to follow the ONE who has it all under control.
Our faith remains in HIM!
Next Entry: Matthew 22:1–46
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