A Parade of Palms and Praise

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Matthew 21:1-11

TO CHEW ON: "A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road." Matthew 21:8

One day as Jesus and His disciples walked toward Jerusalem, He sent two of them on an errand. “Go to the village ahead of you,” He said. “You will find a donkey tied with her colt. Bring them to me.”

Soon the disciples were back with the animals. They put their cloaks (outer clothing) on the animals’ backs and Jesus got on the colt and rode toward the city.

Crowds gathered beside the road. Many had probably seen Jesus’ miracles and heard His teaching. When they saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the donkey, they remembered what prophet Zechariah had said. They recognized this was how Messiah (the Jews’ promised deliverer) would ride into Jerusalem.

Then they took off their cloaks and spread them on the road in the donkey’s path. They cut palm branches and spread them on the road too or waved them as they ran beside Jesus shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” They were honoring Jesus as royalty.

"The Triumphal Entry" - Artist unknown

Spreading coats in the path of a donkey, waving branches and shouting “Hosanna” may seem like a strange way to greet someone who is special. But this was how people of that time honored someone as a king. And they could all get in on the celebration because the things they used – branches, clothes and their own voices – were things they all had.

We too can honor Jesus as our King by using what we have. And what is that? Ourselves and our love, worship and obedience.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to crown You king by giving You my life. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Showing Honor
Though we don’t throw coats on the ground for our kings, queens and presidents to ride over, or wave palm branches as they parade down the street, we too honor important people. Some things we do to honor our kings, queens, presidents, heroes or sports champions are:

1. Roll out a red carpet for them to walk on when they come off a plane or into a reception hall.


2. Have them ride in parades.

3. Meet returning athletes or heroes with flowers.

4. Take care to greet them with perfect manners.

Can you think of more?



 Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

King on a Donkey

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Zechariah 9:9-10

TO CHEW ON: "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey" Zechariah 9:9,

Would you expect a king to ride on a lowly donkey? Kings would usually come riding into town on war horses or decorated camels wouldn’t they? Yet when Zechariah predicted the coming of the King of Zion (Jerusalem), he said it would be on a donkey.


Fast forward about five hundred years to the time of Jesus. One day Jesus sent two of His disciples to a village to borrow a donkey. Then He rode into Jerusalem on its back. As he went through the streets the people began cheering. They took off their coats and laid them in the donkey’s path, just as they would for a king. They waved palm branches and cheered, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21)


Jesus was the special king that Zechariah predicted. But He turned out not to be the king of the nation of Israel, as the people then expected. Instead, He is the king of all time – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Who died for us, rose again and is reigning in heaven now. If you have given Him your heart, He is your king. Some day all people on earth will honor Him as their king too. (Philippians 2:9-11)

If you haven’t bowed to Him as your king, you can, today. Tell Him you are sorry for the bad things you have done. Accept that He paid the penalty you deserved for doing those bad things when He died on the cross. He rose again so you and I can be free of the sins that once had us under their control. Now in gratitude we can serve Him for the rest of our lives as our loving, generous king.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, You are my King. Help me to be Your worthy subject. Amen.

MORE: Predictions Coming True
This section in Zechariah is just one of many Bible prophecies that told details of Jesus’ life long before He was born. Below are six more prophecy predictions that came true. Use the letters in bold to make the title that the Jews called their expected savior.

1. He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
2. He would be offered vinEgar to drink (Psalm 69:21).
3. Jesus’ Mother would be a virgin (Isaiah 7:14).
4. He would win over deAth (Isaiah 25:8).
5. Thirty pieceS of Silver would be paid for Him (Zechariah 11:12).
6. He would be pIerced (Zechariah 12:10).

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___


ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Hope!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Zechariah 8:1-12

TO CHEW ON: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there' " Zechariah 8:4-5.

After winter comes ________
After night comes _________
After sadness comes _________

The Israelites had had years of sadness when they lived in Babylon. Now some of them had returned to Jerusalem. There was much to do – a city to clean up, homes to build, a temple to rebuild. Would things ever get back to the wonderful way they had once been?

God sent Zechariah, another prophet, to encourage everyone. His message was as hopeful as spring after winter, morning after night, joy after crying. “Jerusalem won’t always be like this,” he said. “Exiles from all over will come home. Then old men and women will visit in the streets. Boys and girls will play there.

"Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there." Zechariah 8:4,5

“Because you have done the right thing and laid the foundation for My house, I will bless your crops and give you peace with your neighbors. Take courage and stick with the job.”

We sometimes find ourselves in the middle of difficult times too. At those times it’s hard for us to imagine things will ever change. It seems like we’ll always be sick, or poor, or in trouble. But if we turn to God and obey what He says, He can change things around for us like He did for the Israelites.

Are you in a discouraging time right now? Instead of losing heart, remember these wise words someone said: “No condition is permanent.” Don’t let your present circumstances get you down. Instead, be careful to live in a way that pleases God. Then pray to God to bring change – in His time and His way.

PRAYER: Dear God, I am discouraged about ________ . I believe You know how to change it. Please do that in Your time. Amen.

MORE: Before and After
Draw before and after pictures of Jerusalem.

Before: the wall is broken, the houses are crumbling, the temple is wrecked, the streets are empty.

After: The wall is fixed, the houses are standing, the temple is up, the streets are full of life!

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^{Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.}


Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's.