The King

THE KING

a prayer to open

Open my eyes and help me to see you.

Open my heart and help me to know you.

Jesus, my Lord and my God.

As [Jesus] came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany . . . he sent two disciples ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”

And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.

As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. . . . All of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD!

Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”

Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

What a difference a week makes! In this passage, we read of crowds cheering and celebrating the coming of God to Jerusalem to save his people. Yet just a few days later, these same crowds would be jeering and calling for the brutal murder of Jesus on the cross. And as we see in Jesus’ words, he knew what was coming. Despite this, he continued to teach and proclaim the Kingdom of God to his final breath.

• Imagine yourself watching as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a colt. Would you have been among those welcoming him or among those rebuking and scoffing at those who did?
• Jesus told his disciples that they would find a colt in a particular place and would be asked a particular question when they went to untie it. His disciples believed him, and they found things to be just as Jesus had said. Is there something you are having a hard time believing to be true about God or your own identity as his child? How might you pray about that issue?
• What does today’s passage reveal to you about Jesus?

Father, my heart is pulled in two different directions as I read about Jesus entering Jerusalem for the last time: overwhelming grief for his suffering, and unending gratitude that this suffering saved me. I am so thankful that you opened my eyes to your presence, called me out of my fear and cynicism, and welcomed me as your child. I want to be someone who hangs on your every word and prompting of my spirit. Keep me close to you. I am yours. Amen.