Synoptic Gospels 4: Lord and Lamb (7)
Pray Psalm 47.1-4.
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
For the LORD Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.
He will subdue the peoples under us,
And the nations under our feet.
He will choose our inheritance for us,
The excellence of Jacob whom He loves.
Selah
Sing Psalm 47.1-4.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
O clap your hands, you peoples all, with joy to God your songs intone!
Shout out to Him, and on Him call, He is the mighty, sovereign One!
High is the LORD, O, fear His Name! He rules, a King o’er all the earth.
Nations and peoples He has tamed, the heritage of His holy worth.
Read Matthew 21.1-11; Mark 11.1-19; Luke 19.28-48; meditate on Matthew 21.1-11.
Preparation
1. How did the people acclaim Jesus?
2. What did Jesus say about their praise?
Meditation
Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem might seem like the beginning of the end of His story. We know what will take place over the next week or so. But Luke reminds us that the accounts of Jesus in the gospels are just the beginning of Jesus’ work (Acts 1.1). That being the case, Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem marks the beginning of the end of the beginning—the end of His work of redemption, which He will accomplish over the course of the next week.
Jesus had been to Jerusalem before, but never with such fanfare and display. He staged this entry to fulfill the ancient prophecy of Zechariah 9.9 (v. 5). He waited while the two disciples procured the donkey and her colt, and He allowed the people—“a very great multitude” (v. 8)—to announce His arrival in the words of Psalm 118.26 (v. 9). That psalm ends—as this week will—with the sacrificial Lamb being offered to God for His praise and glory (Ps. 118.27-29).
The sovereignty of Jesus is demonstrated in the finding of the donkey and her colt. As other gospel accounts report, the owners of those animals questioned why the disciples were taking them, but acquiesced in the Lord’s will, just as Jesus said they would (vv. 3, 4; cf. Mk. 11.4-6; Lk. 19.32-35). He demonstrates His humility by riding, not on a powerful steed but on a lowly donkey’s colt. And He demonstrates the truthfulness of His claim to be the Son of God and King of Israel by allowing the people to declare Him as the Son of David Who brings the salvation of God to His people (v. 9).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“So those who were sent went their way
and found it just as He had said to them” (Lk. 19.32).
And then for the preparation of the Passover meal Jesus sent them to find, not just any room, but an upper room specifically set aside for them to share their last meal together.
“So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover” (Lk. 22.13).
Then when the angel greeted them at the empty tomb, what did he say?
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus Who was crucified.
He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (Matt. 28.5, 6).
“Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel.
All came to pass” (Josh. 21.45).
“So shall My Word be
that goes forth from My mouth;
it shall not return to Me void,
but it shall accomplish what I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Is. 55.11).
“The words of the LORD are pure words,
like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
You shall keep them, O LORD,
You shall preserve them from this generation forever” (Ps. 12.6, 7).
“As for God, His way is perfect;
the Word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him” (Ps. 18.30).
God’s Word is always true. God’s Words never return void.
God’s Word is what we live by—that is the Good News.
And the bad news? God’s Words are also what we die by—if not followed.
Jesus wept over the unbelief He found in Jerusalem: “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes” (Lk. 19.41, 42).
May the true Gospel story never be hidden from our eyes:
1. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2.8, 9).
2. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2.10).
3. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14.15; Matt. 22.37-40).
4. “And God spoke all these words, saying…” Keep these commandments (Ex. 20.1-17).
The LORD Triumphant says to His followers:
“I AM sending you out, and as you go your way,
you will find all things just as I have said them” (Lk. 19.32).
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples…baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I AM with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28.18-20). Just as He said.
Reflection
1. How would you explain to a non-Christian friend why you trust the Bible as your authority for life?
2. Even as the crowds hailed Him as the Lord triumphant, Jesus was lowly, riding on a donkey. What’s the lesson here for us?
3. How would you help a Christian friend to begin gaining more confidence in the Word of the Lord?
Those that take Christ for their King, must lay their all under his feet. Hosanna signifies, Save now, we beseech thee! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! But of how little value is the applause of the people! The changing multitude join the cry of the day, whether it be Hosanna, or Crucify him. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 21.1-11
Psalm 47.5-9.
Rejoice and give praise to our King, the Lord Who became a Lamb to pay for our sins. Pray that you might be reminded of His greatness and brought to praise throughout the day.
Sing Psalm 47.5-9.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
God has ascended with a shout, the LORD with sound of trumpet bold!
Sing praise to Him, let praise ring out; let praise throughout the world be told!
God is the King of all the earth; sing praise to Him with glorious psalms!
He rules the nations by His worth, and on His throne receives their alms.
Princes of peoples gather all to Abraham and to our God.
Exalt the LORD, and on Him call. The earth is His, so praise our God!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast is concentrating on praying the psalms to seek revival—why we should and what we might expect. In our twice-weekly Crosfigell column we have begun a new series on Brendan, called “The Navigator.” Why was he called that? Join us and find out. Our current ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church”, wrapped up on Friday. Next in ReVision we will take a close look at the Kingdom economy of the Lord. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
