In the first part of this chapter, we are introduced to what we know today as "Palm Sunday". The picture is this: Jesus, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. With each step the donkey takes, the branches underfoot are snapping. The entourage of people surrounding Jesus' entry shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" The crowd worshiping Him, and knowing of His greatness, laid branches from the nearby trees so that the donkeys hooves would not touch the dirt road leading into the city. They laid "a red carpet" so to speak. People who were watching this crowd enter their city were wondering, "Who is this?"
The Jews were waiting for a king to come. They weren't sure who, but they probably painted a picture of what this king would be. For the people to be worshiping Jesus as they were, portrayed Him to be the "king" they were told would come. But a king riding in on a donkey, with a foal near it's side? They expected this "messiah" to save them from the hand of their enemies, to be strong, courageous, with sword! But this King, rode into Jerusalem humbly on a donkey. Not quite a picture of royalty. But everything Jesus did was purposeful. He didn't ride in on a great white horse for a reason. He was being an example. He did not come to be served, but to serve. People couldn't put faith in his mighty valor. People couldn't put faith in his exceptional royal image. People couldn't put faith in his bold fighting ability. People needed to trust that He was who He said He was. People needed to have faith in things hoped for, things unseen. Jesus was a man when he was entering Jerusalem. He was not wearing a crown of gold and precious gems. He isn't wearing armor either. He was just a man- yet He claimed He was the Son of God. He drove out demons. He made a fig tree wither. He walked on water. He made blind men see, deaf men hear, and mute men speak. Although He wasn't the king they were waiting for, He was the King that they needed. And instead of being the flashy, proud, indignant "king", He was the humble, serving, loving King. There were definitely skeptics, just as there are today. But those who put their faith in Him as their King, and followed Him, could live in His freedom and saving grace.
Living in freedom and in His grace is one of the many substantial gifts from God for following His Son. Having faith in something we can't see, but choose to submit to, is not a decision to be made lightly. It will change your life. As we grow in our relationship with Him, our faith in who He is grows as well. Our knowledge and understanding of His great attributes becomes clearer and more attainable at the personal level. Let me explain: When we mourn, we learn He is the Great Comforter. When we are sick, we learn He is the Great Healer. When we sin, we learn He is the Great Redeemer. When we are struggling financially, we learn He is the Great Provider. This list goes on and on. God is so beyond anything we could ever grasp that He is everything. He calls Himself, "I AM". It's perfect, because it completes who He is. As I was saying, the more we learn about Him, the more we can trust Him, the more our faith develops. When our faith develops, it's usually through the hard times that we learn to just trust God and not our circumstances, and our faith usually multiplies, because God reveals more of His character to us. When our faith deepens, we learn to ask God for things only faith in Him could ask for. We know that what we ask for aligns with His will because we have surrendered our plans to His. This is what I believe Jesus' point was in verses 21-22~ "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen. And whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." Do you have this kind of faith that Jesus was talking about? Are you completely surrendered to Jesus in every area of your life? What things would God do in you and through you if you just had enough faith? For encouragement, read Hebrews 11- the "faith" chapter.
Now I ask you to be bold and kneel before God and ask Him, "Where is my faith lacking? What area of my life is not completely surrendered to You?" God will answer. Your job? To take action!
~Leanne~
The Jews were waiting for a king to come. They weren't sure who, but they probably painted a picture of what this king would be. For the people to be worshiping Jesus as they were, portrayed Him to be the "king" they were told would come. But a king riding in on a donkey, with a foal near it's side? They expected this "messiah" to save them from the hand of their enemies, to be strong, courageous, with sword! But this King, rode into Jerusalem humbly on a donkey. Not quite a picture of royalty. But everything Jesus did was purposeful. He didn't ride in on a great white horse for a reason. He was being an example. He did not come to be served, but to serve. People couldn't put faith in his mighty valor. People couldn't put faith in his exceptional royal image. People couldn't put faith in his bold fighting ability. People needed to trust that He was who He said He was. People needed to have faith in things hoped for, things unseen. Jesus was a man when he was entering Jerusalem. He was not wearing a crown of gold and precious gems. He isn't wearing armor either. He was just a man- yet He claimed He was the Son of God. He drove out demons. He made a fig tree wither. He walked on water. He made blind men see, deaf men hear, and mute men speak. Although He wasn't the king they were waiting for, He was the King that they needed. And instead of being the flashy, proud, indignant "king", He was the humble, serving, loving King. There were definitely skeptics, just as there are today. But those who put their faith in Him as their King, and followed Him, could live in His freedom and saving grace.
Living in freedom and in His grace is one of the many substantial gifts from God for following His Son. Having faith in something we can't see, but choose to submit to, is not a decision to be made lightly. It will change your life. As we grow in our relationship with Him, our faith in who He is grows as well. Our knowledge and understanding of His great attributes becomes clearer and more attainable at the personal level. Let me explain: When we mourn, we learn He is the Great Comforter. When we are sick, we learn He is the Great Healer. When we sin, we learn He is the Great Redeemer. When we are struggling financially, we learn He is the Great Provider. This list goes on and on. God is so beyond anything we could ever grasp that He is everything. He calls Himself, "I AM". It's perfect, because it completes who He is. As I was saying, the more we learn about Him, the more we can trust Him, the more our faith develops. When our faith develops, it's usually through the hard times that we learn to just trust God and not our circumstances, and our faith usually multiplies, because God reveals more of His character to us. When our faith deepens, we learn to ask God for things only faith in Him could ask for. We know that what we ask for aligns with His will because we have surrendered our plans to His. This is what I believe Jesus' point was in verses 21-22~ "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen. And whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." Do you have this kind of faith that Jesus was talking about? Are you completely surrendered to Jesus in every area of your life? What things would God do in you and through you if you just had enough faith? For encouragement, read Hebrews 11- the "faith" chapter.
Now I ask you to be bold and kneel before God and ask Him, "Where is my faith lacking? What area of my life is not completely surrendered to You?" God will answer. Your job? To take action!
~Leanne~
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