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| So much for that triumphal entry |
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On Palm Sunday we remembered Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The people of the city gave Jesus a glorious king’s welcome! They shouted exultantly, “Hosanna in the highest!” (Hosanna means “Save now!” – Matt. 21:9)
But in less than one week those shouts turned to “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Matt 27:22-23) This is because the people did not know who their true Savior was, nor did they realize what it was they really needed saving from. In their me-centered world, they wanted an earthly king who would release them from the hardships of Roman rule. In other words, God’s people were looking for freedom from their own difficult circumstances, from personal suffering, from their daily miseries. Life was hard for them, no doubt!! But did Jesus really come to be crowned an earthly king, to bring earthly relief?
Are we any different today??? How often do people quit living for Christ because of the hopelessness of earthly (temporal) suffering? Children are victimized, marriages are crumbling, people are losing jobs, innocents are going to jail, women are being mistreated, racial groups are being discriminated against, etc. These are all terrible things, but this is the earthly domain after all, isn’t it??? Do we want an earthly king, or something MORE?
How often am I personally looking for an earthly king to make life better for me? How often do I look for salvation from my habits and addictions, abusive people in my life, pain from the past, personal injustices, etc., rather than an eternal salvation unthreatened by what happens in this life?
By rejecting Christ, by not seeking him above all else, by allowing personal turmoil and pain to bring me to the conclusion that Jesus isn’t good enough for me, I’m joining right in with the riotous crowd in shouting feverishly, “CRUCIFY HIM!!!”
So much for that triumphal entry. |
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| Wow! Great word! and Jesus does give us deliverance from all those things when He gives us the peace that surpasses all of our understanding...that is to say, we will still have that "sandpaper" person in our life, but we will find they no longer work us up. Or we will still go through the mourning after losing someone dear to us, but again, we have His peace deep down within us, so we are not shaken. |
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| This world is not my home I'm just a'passin through...my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.... |
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| Mike This is all so true, I preached something similar to this on the radio! |
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RIGHT ON TIME - LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD-
We are constantly asking him for something, (save my marriage, heal my body, fund my finances) all temporary as this world is. My treasures are in heaven and I pray I have stored up enough. He promised to never leave us. How can we not believe him when miracles happen, problems are resolved and we don't know how. Peace and comfort is given in the most trying times. AND THEY CRUCIFIED HIM....... |
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Cathy |
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March 17, 2008 at 11:23am |
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| What was the donkey's name he rode on? |
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Amen Mike ! I'm one those who esteems every day as holy. That said, I understand that this time is traditionally called "Holy Week". God Bless You !
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KitKat |
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March 17, 2008 at 12:22pm |
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Really makes you stop and think about how we are responding to each other. "Thank you Lord Jesus you are still arising in many of your people today. May we live the ressurrection life in front of others so they can have the same hope." |
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Cathy |
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March 17, 2008 at 12:31pm |
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| Hudnall!!! Thank you, it was drving me crazy trying to think of the name !! |
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Joey |
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March 17, 2008 at 3:54pm |
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Mike,
No earthly king could possibly do... for in times of crisis and joy I could turn only to our Savior!
He lives! He lives in you, and He lives in me!
Rejoice! Our Saviour lives! |
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Gene |
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March 17, 2008 at 4:06pm |
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Hosanna was the name of the donkey???
(*head shaking*)
Great blog, Mike. People can be fickle. |
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Joey |
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March 17, 2008 at 4:58pm |
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| Gene, remember who you are! Sitting Bull. |
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JayKTX |
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March 17, 2008 at 5:32pm |
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This is a week to be especially sensitive to why Jesus came and what he came to do. Thank you for helping us do that. I just want to declare that, "Jesus is enough for me!" |
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Thanks Mike...It is really hard to remember what this week is...no....it is very easy to get distracted and forget. So many will live out this week with no thought to it at all...and they will show up this Sunday morning in droves to church. Then...we won't see them again....till Christmas.
LorenDP....let me finish you out....
...the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore. |
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Deb |
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March 17, 2008 at 7:23pm |
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| Awesome blog Mike! When I was deepest into my sin, I was basically shouting the "Crucify Him", and yet He went through with the whole process of dying on the cross, when He could have cried out to His Father to stop it, just for me. It boggles the mind! |
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Mike,
Great Job.
So often I feel like I fall into that category, where I am looking for that earthly relief from the day to day trials. I need to be focused on the eternal vacation from all of this worldly chaos that is already being planned for me by my true "Boss" in this life. Your an eye opener Mike, you truly do have an ability to stir my thoughts, and search my heart with your blogs. Thanks for the jump start for my day. . |
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| Powerful Word Mike, powerful word... |
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"How often do I look for salvation from my habits and addictions, abusive people in my life, pain from the past, personal injustices, etc., rather than an eternal salvation unthreatened by what happens in this life?" YIKES!!! This is so true! I recognize this in myself, which is why I am praying daily for a change in attitude, a change in perception, a change in how I respond to my surroundings. I don't want to crucify Jesus again; the pain I feel when I reflect on the pain he endured for my sake over 2,000 years ago brings tears to my eyes and a true sense of repentance to my heart. "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!" Thanks for a great blog!
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"a change in how I respond to my surroundings." ... We all need this. I'm convinced it's part of keeping our eyes trained on heaven, rather than looking for salvation all around us.
"when I reflect on the pain he endured for my sake over 2,000 years ago brings tears to my eyes and a true sense of repentance to my heart." .... amen, amen, and amen!!! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts Bernadette, the blog is better as a result! |
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Kathy |
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March 21, 2008 at 10:10am |
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Mike, these few days are the part of the story we like to skip over, but there is much to be gained from walking through Jesus' last days on earth, as dark as they were. The story has a happy ending, but there is so much to learn from the darkness that precedes daybreak. |
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Grant |
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March 23, 2008 at 8:36pm |
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 Thank you!
A good reminder! |
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Cheryl |
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March 24, 2008 at 4:32am |
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| Just saw this...wow |
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| WHOA...oh how i could come back to this right now...walking with jesus does put sandpaper to our words and convict us of our own sins. |
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| Love it Steve - great comment! |
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Temaa |
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March 26, 2008 at 10:38am |
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Mike, I'm just starting to go through and read the blogs on this site. This one sure nails it! This is the perception many of this new and next generation have of us..."weekend worshippers".
Shout "Hosanna!" on Sundays, then "Crucify Him!" the rest of the week. We don't give any impression of consistency in our lives.
This is why evangelism is so difficult in these times. Helping people consider the Christian way of life is extremely hard work, and it requires Christians to build lives with the infrastructure to facilitate it 24/7. The "weekend worshipper" mentality does not do justice to the work we have all been called to do.
Keep up the good WORD!
Gil |
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Thanks Doyle! And thanks Gil! Regarding "...evangelism is so difficult in these times", wow, don't hear that voiced very often. I agree, I think evangelism in the US and other rich countries is particularly difficult. Sometimes this makes me want to become a missionary to some third world country somewhere, where Christ is truly appreciated! |
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We are not of this world. Though we wish we were sometimes. It is the same problem the flesh verses the Spirit. The flesh wants it now! The flesh wants comfort! The flesh wants ease! But, God is not about pampering our flesh but crucifying it. Jesus was a great example to all of us.."not my will but Thine be done."
God Bless Brother Powerful Word! |
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| My gosh, great line Bro Todd! "But, God is not about pampering our flesh but crucifying it." Awesome! |
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| Amen Mike, and even though we can try daily sometimes our words hurt Jesus too.Thanks I needed this today. |
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