2013 Advent Devotions from the Lutheran Hour Ministries –
"A NEVER ENDING KINGDOM - Friday, 3 January 2014 - Tenth
Day of Christmas"
Read Matthew Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
21 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at
the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,2 saying
to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a
donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If
anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will
send them immediately.[a]” 4 This
took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;7 they
brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on
them. 8 A very large crowd[b] spread
their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread
them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of
him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of
David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil,
asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying,
“This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 21:3 Or ‘The
Lord needs them and will send them back immediately.’
b. Matthew 21:8 Or Most
of the crowd. TEXT: Of the increase of His government and of peace there
will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it
and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and
forevermore (see Isaiah 9:7)
It was a troubled time when King David began reigning over
Israel. The nation was surrounded by many dangerous enemies. David had to lead
his army in numerous battles over many years to finally win peace from the
nations all around. He left his son Solomon a large, prosperous and peaceful
kingdom.
Sadly, Israel didn't stay at peace for long. In the last part of
his reign King Solomon turned away from the Lord and worshiped the foreign gods
of his many wives. After Solomon's death 10 of the 12 tribes broke off and
formed their own kingdom, and David's descendants were left with only two
tribes. Over the coming decades and centuries, God let the enemy nations stir
again and David's peace vanished.
That is why Isaiah reminded God's people the coming Christ would
be David's Son. Like His father David He would go to war against our enemies.
By His innocent suffering and death on the cross He would crush sin, death,
Satan and hell.
But unlike David, Jesus didn't stay dead. On the third day He
rose to life to guard and guide His kingdom forever. Since His blood washes
away all our sins, we can be confident His kingdom will never be snatched out
of His hands. Under Jesus Christ our peace will last forevermore.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for boldly defeating all our
enemies through Your suffering, death and resurrection. Let Your peace fill our
hearts and work through us to bring more and more people into Your holy
kingdom. Amen.
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Mail:
Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Center Drive
St. Louis, MO 63141 United States
Telephone: (800)876-9880
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