Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Thursday, 4 December 2014 "'The Son of David' claimed David's kingdom"
Today's Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.
Matthew 21:6-9 The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, “Hosanna to David’s son!” “Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!” “Hosanna in highest heaven!”
10 As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, “What’s going on here? Who is this?”
11 The parade crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee.”
He Kicked Over the Tables
12-14 Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text:
My house was designated a house of prayer;
You have made it a hangout for thieves.
Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them.
15-16 When the religious leaders saw the outrageous things he was doing, and heard all the children running and shouting through the Temple, “Hosanna to David’s Son!” they were up in arms and took him to task. “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
Jesus said, “Yes, I hear them. And haven’t you read in God’s Word, ‘From the mouths of children and babies I’ll furnish a place of praise’?”
Reflection Questions:
Isaiah wrote of Israel's hope that God would send a faithful heir of David's royal line to rule forever (cf. 1 Kings 9:3-5). In Israel, donkeys were for kings (e.g. 1 Kings 1:33-44) as well as common people. But Zechariah 9:9-10, which Matthew cited, distinguished a king on a donkey, who came in peace, from the war horses and chariots of a conqueror. People hailed Jesus as the "Son of David," God's promise come true at last.
Today's Prayer:
Lord God, during Advent we renew our trust in your gift of hope. So much in our world, globally and locally, tugs me toward hopelessness. Renew and reinforce my ability to live in hope this Advent. Amen.
Insight from Mike Wilhoit
mwilhoitMike Wilhoit serves at The Church of the Resurrection as Local Missions Director.
I might not have recognized Jesus as King.
It’s easy to look back and criticize the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. Instead of recognizing God’s own Son, they became increasingly upset as Jesus and his message grew in popularity. They wanted a powerful political savior, not a gentle king who traveled on a humble donkey.
But consider all the chief priests and elders were being asked to give up. They were used to being esteemed as community leaders. They had to like being powerful, being right and being followed. Yet these privileges blinded them to new truth.
Has someone else ever diminished your popularity, power or point of view? What might you have missed?
____________________________
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.
Matthew 21:6-9 The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, “Hosanna to David’s son!” “Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!” “Hosanna in highest heaven!”
10 As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, “What’s going on here? Who is this?”
11 The parade crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee.”
He Kicked Over the Tables
12-14 Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text:
My house was designated a house of prayer;
You have made it a hangout for thieves.
Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them.
15-16 When the religious leaders saw the outrageous things he was doing, and heard all the children running and shouting through the Temple, “Hosanna to David’s Son!” they were up in arms and took him to task. “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
Jesus said, “Yes, I hear them. And haven’t you read in God’s Word, ‘From the mouths of children and babies I’ll furnish a place of praise’?”
Reflection Questions:
Isaiah wrote of Israel's hope that God would send a faithful heir of David's royal line to rule forever (cf. 1 Kings 9:3-5). In Israel, donkeys were for kings (e.g. 1 Kings 1:33-44) as well as common people. But Zechariah 9:9-10, which Matthew cited, distinguished a king on a donkey, who came in peace, from the war horses and chariots of a conqueror. People hailed Jesus as the "Son of David," God's promise come true at last.
- Some who watched Jesus no doubt hoped he would lead a drive to kill the Romans and restore Israel's power. His ride on a donkey pointed in a different direction. "When the chief priests and legal experts saw the amazing things he was doing and the children shouting in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!' they were angry." They didn't want a gentle king, a "Son of David," who said to love your enemies. Do you?
- "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." Yet even after he met Jesus, Paul would write, "Now we see a dim reflection" (1 Corinthians 13:12). In what ways has Jesus already brought light into your dark world? In what ways are you waiting for the full brilliance of God's light?
Today's Prayer:
Lord God, during Advent we renew our trust in your gift of hope. So much in our world, globally and locally, tugs me toward hopelessness. Renew and reinforce my ability to live in hope this Advent. Amen.
Insight from Mike Wilhoit
mwilhoitMike Wilhoit serves at The Church of the Resurrection as Local Missions Director.I might not have recognized Jesus as King.
It’s easy to look back and criticize the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. Instead of recognizing God’s own Son, they became increasingly upset as Jesus and his message grew in popularity. They wanted a powerful political savior, not a gentle king who traveled on a humble donkey.
But consider all the chief priests and elders were being asked to give up. They were used to being esteemed as community leaders. They had to like being powerful, being right and being followed. Yet these privileges blinded them to new truth.
Has someone else ever diminished your popularity, power or point of view? What might you have missed?
____________________________
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