Joshua 19:32-20:9; Luke 19:28-40; Psalms 88:13-18; Proverbs 20:24-25
NT: “As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it? ’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’” So those who were sent left and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” “The Lord needs it,” they said. Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the colt, they helped Jesus get on it. As he was going along, they were spreading their clothes on the road. Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven! Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”” (Luke 19:29-40 CSB)
Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing, and only said what He heard the Father saying. His entry into Jerusalem was no different. I’m sure that as Jesus spent time with the Father that Palm Sunday morning, the Father showed Him exactly what He was to do… and then He instructed His disciples in what they were to do. The specifics were very important, for His entry into Jerusalem would fulfill the prophecy declared in Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” As Jesus entered the Holy City, the throngs of Passover pilgrims began shouting the Messianic Psalm 118:25-26, “Lord, save us! Lord, please grant us success! He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you.” This was the only time that Jesus ever allowed a public proclamation of praise to Him… because the Father told Him to allow it. Why? To fulfill scripture and to set in motion the religious leaders’ plans to end His life. In just a few days Jesus would become the “stone that the builders rejected…” (Psalm 118:22a), and would lay down His life as the Lamb of God on Passover. Nothing was by coincidence or happenstance. The time was right and everything happened according to the Father’s plan… and Jesus obeyed, even to His death.
Proverbs: “Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the Lord, so how can anyone understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24 CSB)
The word usage in this proverb is interesting. The CSB does a good job in accurately translating it. There are 2 words for man. The first is ‘geber’ meaning a mighty, valiant warrior. The second is ‘adam’ the common word for mankind. The thought is: if a valiant warrior is only victorious because he allows the Lord to order his steps, then how could anyone expect to navigate life successfully on his own. If there ever was a courageous and victorious warrior, it was Jesus – taking on the kingdom of darkness, sin, and death; and coming away completely victorious. If Jesus didn’t do anything outside of the Father’s will and the understanding He received from the Father through the Holy Spirit, what makes us think we can do any less?
Jamie Hicks 