Oh Save
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
We start this lesson with Jesus sending two disciples ahead to get the colt. Now it is interesting to note that in Matthew they are told to get two a colt and it's mother. Here Mark doesn't mention it but we can safely assume that if it was a colt that had never been ridden that it's mother is there. Also having it's mother near by would probably be a good thing as well.
It is also important to note that a lot has been said about the humbleness of a donkey instead of a horse. However that is quite a miss understanding of the times. Kings, judges, important people road donkeys. Horses were for the far less important warrior. This was not a statement of humility. This was solidly stating who he was. This was a Kingly procession, people were laying down their clothes for the donkey to walk on and waving palm branches and shouting. There was great rejoicing. This was a grand processional.
It is important to note that Jesus riding in on a donkey was fulfilling prophesy. In Zechariah 9:9 it says,
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
This must have encouraged the crowd. They new the prophesy. They were here apart of something amazing. They were here with the Messiah. Their king! He was going to save them! They were able to be part of this historic moment. Everything was grand.
So why does it say "lowly"
This word is "aniy" and it means poor, afflicted, needy, week, humble...
Not what this grand processional was celebrating!
Ellen White in Desire of Ages writes about Jesus taking a moment when they get to the place where they can see Jerusalem and how he weeps. He is broken...
"It was the sight of Jerusalem that pierced the heart of Jesus—Jerusalem that had rejected the Son of God and scorned His love, that refused to be convinced by His mighty miracles, and was about to take His life. He saw what she was in her guilt of rejecting her Redeemer, and what she might have been had she accepted Him who alone could heal her wound. He had come to save her; how could He give her up?"
"Christ came to save Jerusalem with her children; but Pharisaical pride, hypocrisy, jealousy, and malice had prevented Him from accomplishing His purpose. Jesus knew the terrible retribution which would be visited upon the doomed city. He saw Jerusalem encompassed with armies, the besieged inhabitants driven to starvation and death, mothers feeding upon the dead bodies of their own children, and both parents and children snatching the last morsel of food from one another, natural affection being destroyed by the gnawing pangs of hunger. He saw that the stubbornness of the Jews, as evinced in their rejection of His salvation, would also lead them to refuse submission to the invading armies. He beheld Calvary, on which He was to be lifted up, set with crosses as thickly as forest trees. He saw the wretched inhabitants suffering torture on the rack and by crucifixion, the beautiful palaces destroyed, the temple in ruins, and of its massive walls not one stone left upon another, while the city was plowed like a field. Well might the Saviour weep in agony in view of that fearful scene."
This is the lowly. Jesus is riding in triumphant but his heart is afflicted. He is not celebratory. I can also only imagine what it must have been like knowing that very soon... these same people, whom he loved so much, would also be crying out, "crucify him." He wasn't sad for himself but for their blindness. These people whom he loved so much were now rejoicing but they still didn't understand.
This scene shows the contrast of celebration, and triumph and great sorrow, or brokenness.
What the people were crying out in celebration is so beautiful.
"Hosanna" means "oh save"
We see it as just an exclamation of praise. It is that. But it's meaning adds such richness. Oh save. It is amazing to me that all the people were part of this amazing processional, praising God, and calling Jesus what he was, and exclaiming, Oh Save.. and in a very short time, they would be crying out "crucify Him."
Life application.
Perhaps it is enough to just spend some time contemplating what our Savior did for us. Maybe we don't need life application.
If there is anything for us to takeaway may be it is this.
1. Borrowing: We have been struggling with caring for Grandma. Recently she has become more and more combative with me. She doesn't want anything to be done for her. She will get angry even if I ask a question, or worse yet if I try to do anything for her, even something like handing her a glass of water. I also have a hard time accepting help. This passage, reminded me that relying on the kindness of others is actually a Christ like trait. In grandma it is so obvious how destructive it is, even to her, to be unwilling to accept help. It is down right dangerous. Maybe it is for us too. We are not only unwilling to let God do the work he so desperately wants to do, but we are often unwilling to ask for help from those around us. We are unwilling to accept help that is offered. Maybe we need to practice the Christ like trait of asking for help!
2. How quickly we forget: How quickly the crowds turned. How quickly we forget! Let's remind ourselves of how great our Lord is everyday. To do our best to recount his great love for us and daily surrender to him.
3. Oh save. Let's remember and live like we have been SAVED! I really believe when we know we are SAVED then we can live differently. LIVE SAVED!!!
Happy Sabbath
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