Warrior who rides in on an animal of peace for the sake of the ones He loves.

April 2, 2023 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

“…Look, your king is coming to you…he is humble, riding on a donkey…” Zechariah 9:9

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ” They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mark 11:1‭-‬4‭.

Everything about Jesus coming and his ministry were preordained right to the Donkey. In a time when so many felt like what they needed was a warrior they ended up with a gentle and merciful King. Some days all you want is for Jesus to be the type of King who would come with through with his sword, beheading our enemies and setting us free. But that has never been Jesus’s character. Jesus doesn’t want to lose a single soul, so he comes riding on a donkey. For the sake of us, he would set aside his great power and die by human hands. In the final hour Jesus Will Come and he will destroy the enemy! Wielding a sword and killing all evil. But till that day comes we have to remain as occupiers, not taking up battle arms against people but against the devil who works through people. We don’t always want to go to the World on the back of a donkey, but until Jesus returns to Vanquish the enemy, we must ride out on animals of burden and peace, with our sword of the Spirit ready by our side. Jesus will come again, and when He does He will come as a warrior king with His army to defeat the true enemy- the devil will fall. But He wants to take back as many souls from the devil as possible before the final hour strikes, so he comes in peace because He chooses not to be our enemy even when we kill Him, because He loves us and wants us. What a sad and terrible day this must have been as Jesus saw people who should have loved Him, praising Him only while it was convinient. When He was no longer popular they shouted to crucify Him and to set the false Jesus free- they chose Barabas.
Still He comes in peace to a world full of lost and wandering souls who desperately need Him.

Devotional · encouragement · guidance · Jesus · lent · The Bible

Palms laid before him

January 22, 2023January 22, 2023 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Lent devotional 35

Enter Jerusalem, the city streets are filled with celebrating and cheering as a humble and gentle donkey colt strides down the streets.
Palms are laid at the sweet animal’s feet and a sense of pride wells in the donkey’s heart. He is carrying Jesus, as all animals know Jesus is the king of kings, God’s one and only Son; but the donkey senses sonething, a feeling of pain in the heart of his Lord. The donkey is confused and turns his head to nuzzle the King’s foot, a gentle hand strokes the animal’s neck in response. The donkey stretches hard to see Jesus’ face. The beaming smile is a shock to the donkey because it can sense the sadness within the savior’s heart. All the gentle colt can do is continue to carry his Lord.
The animal saw both joy and sorrow and could not understand, but the joy was love for the King’s people, and the sorrow was knowledge that these people were only a breath away from condemning their King to die; but one small donkey showed his love and carried the weight of the savior as the savior carried the weight of the world.

Jesus was recorded as having great anguish as He neared Jerusalem. Anguish that simple human senses could barely begin to understand. To suffer is one thing, but to know you are about to suffer is another. If we saw the suffering that would come in our lives we as people could not handle it. Jesus knew every bit of His suffering to come and that caused Him greater pain than He would have experienced if it had all been a shock or surprise. Days of waiting are too much to bear, but He bore them for us. The false love of the people must have stung and the lies of Judas must have made His heart sick, but He suffered them all because He loves us. Oh what a love that is, who else could give such love? Who else would? Only Jesus loves us so much.

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Devotional · Jesus · lent · Love · The Bible

Little hooves

April 11, 2022 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Lent devotional 34

The steps grow heavy as the hooves near the towering wall. He is afraid. He hears cheering and clicking and crying ahead of him. The smells of the city waft out like air from a grate. A wet drop hits his neck. He turns and sees his companion is crying. His fear grows. Maybe he can run away? Maybe no one will notice? He trudges on. The gates loom over him as he enters the dark opening. A moment of cool shade is followed by blinding light. He squints. The cheers grow louder. He looks around and sees a crowd of people. They wave scary branches at him and drop them for him to step on. If he turn and run now he can get away. Ready? Now. A hand touches his neck and he cringes. The hand pats softly. He looks up. His companion is smiling at him, all tears are gone. He nuzzles the man’s knee. The hand continues to rub gently and the fear melts away. This is okay. It’s all going to be okay. He doesn’t know how or why, just that it is. The man gets off and whispers in his ear, “well done.”

Imagine the fear and sorrow Jesus must have felt entering Jerusulem that day. The menacing wall. The dark gate entrance. The noises beyond and what awaited Him later on. He had determined to go forth, but He must have thought about running away. Maybe not. Maybe that is my human mind talking and saying what I would have felt. Just turn around, no one will notice. But He was doing the work of His father. He would never run from His Father’s wishes. I bet the donkey wanted to. He was a baby. All these sights and smells would have been new to him. The palm branches slippery under foot and the cheering croud deafening. But Jesus’ presence calmed him. Perhaps they led his mother ahead of him to keep him stable, but there is no record of that, no, I believe it was Christ’s presence that calmed the baby’s fears, even though He had fear Himself. What a king. What a savior. What a friend. To go through such horrors for a fading flower like me.

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