Two reactions to the presence of the King give me a choice, too
By Dean Collins
It may have looked the same to some but Jesus was redefining the way a kingdom was governed and how this new kingdom would change the world forever. Jesus was not the first king or leader to arrive in a town riding an animal. In fact, it was customary for a king to do so after a victory. Those in the village would bow down as the honored or conquering king rode past.
Actions of a king
On the day of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, many citizens placed branches and cloaks on the ground as Jesus rode in like a king. He didn’t deny his kingship, but his behavior made clear both before and after this event that he defined kingship as one who would come to heal and transform rather than simply exert power and control. It was just a few days earlier that Jesus had corrected James and John and their mother about greatness looking more like a servant than one who sat in places of honor.
When Jesus entered the temple he was angry that the focus of some was on convenience of sacrifice versus humility and prayer. As Jesus turned over the tables and seats of those engaged in commerce instead of on their knees in prayer, he quoted from the prophet Jeremiah. It is easy for us to remember this dramatic scene and miss the next act of Jesus.
The blind and lame approached Jesus in the temple the same day, and Jesus healed them. The religious leaders who were upset at the triumphal entry were also upset with the merciful miracles performed in front of their watching eyes. The chief priests and scribes reacted negatively to the children who cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David” and asked Jesus “Don’t you hear what they are saying?” He did and, following his pattern, he quoted Scripture to his adversaries, just as he had in the wilderness confronted by Satan. This time Jesus went to Psalm 8: “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise.” The religious leaders had no comeback. They simply simmered in their anger and continued their plot and plans to trap and eliminate the very one who came to save them along with the rest of the world.
Submitting to the king
I am struck by the comparison of those who resisted Jesus with those who praised him or sought his help. His adversaries tried to eliminate his influence. Meanwhile, innocent children shouted his praise and those with visible wounds and weaknesses simply asked Jesus to heal them.
It makes me wonder who I am more like. Do I sometimes try to minimize the role of Jesus in my life? Yes, I will call him Savior. Like most people, I know I have my sin, my flaws, my failures. For that we need the Savior. But to declare him King and Lord is often another thing. To declare Jesus Lord of our lives requires that we continue to allow him to tear away the pride, the power, and the control we so desperately attempt to exert over self and others.
We learn from the apostle Paul that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. Knowing this to be true must change the way we act toward God and toward others. If Jesus is to be king in the temple of our heart, we must be willing to step aside and allow him both to clean us up and send us out to those in need.
May the blessing of God go before you and his goodness and mercy follow after all of us today as we surrender to Jesus and humbly serve those he places in our paths.
Your time with God’s Word
Matthew 21:12-16; Jeremiah 7:2-4, 11; Psalm 8:1-2; 118:26 ESV
Photo by Brady Leavell on Unsplash
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