GOD’S WORD FOR OCTOBER 12

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

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JESUS RIDES INTO JERUSALEM

Matthew 21:7-11

“They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them, and a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!

‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Hosanna in the highest!”

 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

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Why ride into Jerusalem in this form and fashion?  Let me share two out of many reasons for our Lord’s humble ride.

First, that He might most openly declare Himself as King.  He had told them who He was and why He came, but they would not hear it, and they dared say to Him, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly”  (John 10:24).

Now He will assure them still more positively of His kingdom by openly riding into the city of Jerusalem

Second, it was our Lord’s public claiming of authority over Israel, as promised by the prophets.  He was the Son of David, and moreover, as the Messiah, the King of His people, ancient Israel.  The prophet said, concerning Him, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  (Zechariah 9:9).  Our Lord Jesus literally came to Zion in this manner – and He put the city in a stir.

Jesus Christ never moved the people of Jerusalem till He rode that donkey – till they cast their garments in the road and strewed the branches and cried, “Hosanna!”

Only then, as He rode in triumph as King of the Jews, was the whole city stirred.  Oh, that we had a reigning Savior more distinctly recognized in all our churches!  And is your heart stirred when you think of Christ riding toward you?

Look!  Here comes the King of the kings of the earth, not on a majestic steed – no prancing horse which would keep the sons in poverty at a distance.  O, He rides upon His donkey and, as He rides along, speaks kindly to the little children, who are crying, “Hosanna,” and wishes well to the mothers and fathers of the lowest society, who crowd around Him.  Christ is approachable.  He is not divided from us.  No trumpet sounds – He is content with the voice of men.  No pomp but the pomp which loving hearts willingly yield to Him.  He rides toward the arrest, the trial, the nails, the cross, the mockery, and the horror, all for you.

 Brothers and sisters, may we feel in our hearts that Christ has arrived and cast down every high and every proud thought – that every valley may be lifted up, and every hill may be brought low, and the whole heart exalted in that day as we say, “Hosanna!”

The best interpretation I can give of “Hosanna” is “Save, oh save!  Save, oh save!”  Different nations have different ways of expressing their goodwill to their monarchs.  A Roman would have shouted, “Lo triumphe!”  The Brits sing, “God save the King.” The Persians said, “O King, live forever.”   The French have their “Vive” expressions, by which they mean, “Long live….”   “Hosanna” is tantamount to all these.  It is a shout of homage, welcome, and loyalty. 

“Hosanna, Hosanna, the King is come.  Save Him, O lord!  Save us through Him!  Long live the King!”  While it was a shout of reverence, it was also a prayer to the King and we join in and say, “Save, Lord, save us, O King!”

O King, born to conquer and to save, deliver us.”

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Genesis 3:15

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Matthew 1:1

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:”

Jeremiah 23:5

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

Ephesians 4:8

“Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”

John 18:36

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

Luke 1:32

“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.”

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