Coming!

 Image: “Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, 
Candler School of Theology, Emory University”

Triumphal Entry

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Luke 19:28-48

TO CHEW ON: "Then as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.' " Luke 19:37-38

Imagine being part of this crowd, cheering the arrival of your king. Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem on a donkey was well understood by the Jewish people. They recognized Him as their long-anticipated Messiah. Their shout, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord” was from prophetic Psalm 118 .

The second part of their welcome, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest,"  haven’t we heard it somewhere before? Yes indeed – at His first coming. It was the praise of the angels as they announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds (Luke 2:14). 

There is another coming. It hasn’t happened yet. Two men “in white apparel” (angels? prophets or patriarchs in a heavenly form?) predicted it the day Jesus’ ascended into heaven: “This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Are we expecting His return as some were looking for His first coming (Luke 2:25-26)?  Are we awake and alert (Matthew 25:13), scanning the horizon for signs that it may be soon (Matthew 24:3-13)? Do we love the thought of His return  to the extent we would celebrate it as the crowds celebrated His entry into Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday (2 Timothy 4:8)? Am I ready? Are you? How sad if it should be said of us as Jesus said of the citizens of Jerusalem: "'... you did not know the time of your visitation' " - Matthew 19:44.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to be ready for Your return, should You come again before I die. Even so come Lord Jesus. Amen.


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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.