Are You Ready to Be Set Free by the King?
Good Morning Friends,
Amy and I are going to be away for a few days and when we return I will in three days hopefully resurrect the devotional. When we return we begin the process of making palm crosses as a witness to the coming ruler of God’s people for Palm Sunday service at Moorings. Even now I am contemplating the prophecy of Zechariah 2500 years ago and the events of Palm Sunday 2000 years ago and the events on the cross that follows. I am thinking how they show us that good an evil cannot coexist easily….that Jesus had to die to remove the curse. That Jesus had to die to demonstrate that there is always room for those who repent and receive grace from the King of Glory even on the cross. Here in the face of entrenched power and privilege Jesus offers a wide open invitation for the captives…mercy big enough for anyone who believes in His power. Are You Ready to Be Set Free by the King?
Scripture:
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9Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9 (NRSV)
21When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying 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. 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.*‘ 4This took place to fulfil 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.’ 6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8A very large crowd* spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The 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!’ 10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ 11The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’
Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)
29Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:29 (NRSV)
32Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus* there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ 34Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]]* And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah* of God, his chosen one!’ 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ 38There was also an inscription over him,* ‘This is the King of the Jews.’39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding* him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah?* Save yourself and us!’ 40But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ 42Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into* your kingdom.’ 43He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’
Luke 23:32-43 (NRSV)
Message: Jesus knows who we really are and loves us anyway. He wants the captives to know that wherever Jesus is grace abounds. He desires us to realize that His Kingdom is big enough for all who want to be free. Even at Calvary the case for Christ is presented with the grace of a King who loves abundantly. In this place of three crosses we see rebellion, repentance and redemption. We see the gift of second chances. At the very moment that Jesus was dying for that criminal’s sins on the cross He was offering all of us an unconditional pardon. Here a symbol of shame and terror and death is replaced with a symbol of God’s profound love for us. Jesus invites us home and is waiting to see if we will extend grace to others. Indeed He is a surprising King who bring victory.
Pray we realize that when Jesus came into the world He saw things that the world was unable to see. Pray we realize that sin is a serious problem and for those who do not believe in it, deadly. Pray with rejoicing that Jesus did not run away from our darkness but instead conquered it. Pray that we join in Jesus’ last words…his prayer on the cross… Pray we remember His words of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, abandonment, distress, triumph and reunion. Pray that His last words on the cross set us free…Pray we repent and turn to God and here on our knees accept the gift. Pray that the words of Jesus that honored God 2000 years ago continue to honor God in our lives. Pray that Jesus remembers us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 