Excellent, Joel! A few years ago, after setting the scene with the meaning of the palm branches and the donkey that you mention here, I point out what Jesus does next: cleanse the temple and curse the fig tree. They wanted Jesus to deal with the wickedness “out there”; he wanted to start with the unfaithfulness of God’s people. So often the “strings” we put on God are to deal with the evil out there, but He wants to deal with the sin in us. Great word, brother!
That is so true Glenn! I remember reading that people that were praying for healing and not receiving it were asking to be physically healed but what they really needed to ask for was that God would heal anything in them that was hurting other people.
“The. Same. Crowd.” Whew! I never knew this was the same crowd. I always assumed it had to be a different crowd calling for His crucifixion — people who had already rejected or dismissed Jesus and his upside-down kingdom.
“We may not be waving palm branches, but we carry expectations just as heavy.” Thank you for giving me so much to ponder this Palm Sunday!
Wow, wow, wow. I love how accessible you make historical context and provide depth with the Greek and Hebrew words. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
I often have wondered if the crowd was the same people. In light of your words about their expectations I see this clearer now. And amen to "Who He is will always prove to be infinitely better than our expectations of Him." Thank you Joel.
Thank you for this context…..it literally helps me to see clearly all that was going on and wow was much going on in this passage. Thanks for helping up dig deeper.
Sometimes, we want an upside down kingdom, (phrase used by Mao), so we punish lawful obedience and agape. (Romans 13:1-10)
See also 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
God sees our hearts, wants us to be neither harming enemies, nor destroying, but does He want us to support lawlessness? Demand our government make others give instead of each of us blessing, caring for one another, when we can?
Why do we have less middle class, way more poor than 1970s?
2-3 years ago, ~43% of people in California were below the poverty line and a few rich oligarchs, have been controlling the politics. This is as it was in Socialist-Communist Countries. And to make all the same this way, requires such oppression, over 200 million people were killed by those totalitarian governments.
Christians instead came to realize freedom to care for others is what GOD prefers; and personal relationships with those one helps, can make it so we can actually help them and it’s mutual, both benefit, God is glorified, when we give in His name. 2 Corinthians 8-12
Responsibility and good health get taught; proper care….
Excellent, Joel! A few years ago, after setting the scene with the meaning of the palm branches and the donkey that you mention here, I point out what Jesus does next: cleanse the temple and curse the fig tree. They wanted Jesus to deal with the wickedness “out there”; he wanted to start with the unfaithfulness of God’s people. So often the “strings” we put on God are to deal with the evil out there, but He wants to deal with the sin in us. Great word, brother!
This is so good, Glenn!
That is so true Glenn! I remember reading that people that were praying for healing and not receiving it were asking to be physically healed but what they really needed to ask for was that God would heal anything in them that was hurting other people.
“The. Same. Crowd.” Whew! I never knew this was the same crowd. I always assumed it had to be a different crowd calling for His crucifixion — people who had already rejected or dismissed Jesus and his upside-down kingdom.
“We may not be waving palm branches, but we carry expectations just as heavy.” Thank you for giving me so much to ponder this Palm Sunday!
Wow, wow, wow. I love how accessible you make historical context and provide depth with the Greek and Hebrew words. Thank you.
Wow, wow, wow. I love how accessible you make historical context and provide depth with the Greek and Hebrew words. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Thank you for this reminder of who our King truly is and how we should live in light of that truth.
Wonderful! May the good Lord bless your writing ministry.
I often have wondered if the crowd was the same people. In light of your words about their expectations I see this clearer now. And amen to "Who He is will always prove to be infinitely better than our expectations of Him." Thank you Joel.
So good! Something we all need to be reminded of this Palm Sunday.
Thank you for this context…..it literally helps me to see clearly all that was going on and wow was much going on in this passage. Thanks for helping up dig deeper.
Yes! HalleluYah!
Sometimes, we want an upside down kingdom, (phrase used by Mao), so we punish lawful obedience and agape. (Romans 13:1-10)
See also 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
God sees our hearts, wants us to be neither harming enemies, nor destroying, but does He want us to support lawlessness? Demand our government make others give instead of each of us blessing, caring for one another, when we can?
Why do we have less middle class, way more poor than 1970s?
2-3 years ago, ~43% of people in California were below the poverty line and a few rich oligarchs, have been controlling the politics. This is as it was in Socialist-Communist Countries. And to make all the same this way, requires such oppression, over 200 million people were killed by those totalitarian governments.
Christians instead came to realize freedom to care for others is what GOD prefers; and personal relationships with those one helps, can make it so we can actually help them and it’s mutual, both benefit, God is glorified, when we give in His name. 2 Corinthians 8-12
Responsibility and good health get taught; proper care….