Here are a few thoughts from my journal this morning.
The day we know as Palm Sunday is the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt. As He rode into town, the people laid clothing, and some took palm branches and laid them down before him, and the people cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest.”
How do you respond when Jesus rides into your life? When Jesus arrived in town, he went to the temple of God, and there He “drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves.” After doing this, he said to the people, “It is written. ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.'”
The Lord desires an open door of communion with Him. He wants to remove that which hinders us and others from knowing Him.
It is interesting that after He did this, we read that the children said, “Hosanna to the son of David!” Oh, how this made the leaders indignant, and they said to Jesus, “Do you hear what they are saying?”
Jesus heard the children, and I think He replied to the leaders with a joyful smile, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise?'”
What Jesus said makes me think of what He said when the disciples at an earlier time when they asked who would be the greatest in the kingdom. He said, “unless you are converted and become like little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives Me.” Matthew 18:1-5
We try to position ourselves, say the right things, and be seen with the “in crowd” to advance our position. We put up a facade to promote ourselves. Jesus says that is not the way of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is to become like a child. It’s also to receive the other children, and together, we join in and say, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Jesus says not to strive and seek after success. Jesus said, “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Jesus says that you and I have a Father in heaven who will take care of us. Live free, and don’t get caught up in the endless quest for success. I see how the world works and the endless jocking for position and status. Jesus tells us there is a better way. A freer way.
Oh, God, help us to be less so we can receive more. May you increase our faith.