Dear Friends,
We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. We
give thanks to Rev. Richard Giesken, Associate Lecturer in Biblical Studies and
Missiology, for writing this devotional.
You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
Mark 11:1-11
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.”’ 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5 some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Devotional
“Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem!” Ironically, last week’s devotional spoke against Triumphalism. It is important to remember that the section headings that appear in our Bibles were not part of the original text of the Bible but represent a later interpretation of passage. Where is the triumph of this passage? In less than a week after this event, the crowd that hailed him as, “the one who comes in the name of the Lord” would soon be calling for his death. The enthusiasm for the coming kingdom of David would turn to animosity and leave Jesus hanging on a cross – the symbol of humiliation, shame, and defeat.
The death of Jesus is not something that we like to dwell on. We want to move quickly to Sunday morning and celebrate the triumph over death and sin – and rightly should celebrate. But look a little longer at this moment, for in it we are confronted by our own failure, our own weakness, our own shame. But only when we face this reality can we empty ourselves of our own vanity and self-deceit and embrace the triumph of Easter Sunday morning – Not a triumph over others, but a victory over self. Not a celebration of what we have done, but an embrace of what He has done.
Prayer
Hosanna! Lord save us! Save us from our own self-sufficiency. Save us from our own self-confidence. Save us from the blame shifting that lays the guilt for the death of Jesus as the feet of others. Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. Amen
Grace and peace,
Richard Giesken
Associate lecturer (Biblical Studies and Missiology)