Jesus also cursed the fruitless fig tree and flipped the tables of the moneychangers in that same week. A double-edged sword of fire will protrude from His mouth upon His final return. This humble servant is also all-powerful and all-just.
Our God is a God of love and peace, but He is also a God of righteousness and wrathful judgment. He did not come to earth as Jesus to conquer the world but to conquer sin - and not in peace but in division due to those who choose not to believe (Luke 12:49-51).
We cannot even grasp a sliver of the full truth of the greatness of God. It is true that He humbled Himself as the Son to live and die as only He could, to avoid condemnation for those who trust Him. But all too often, painting the picture of the meek and humble Christ allows the lost to stay lost, in the belief that a false version of their own creation can save - that our God will overlook their sins without them completely dying to self.
What we can and must learn is to humble ourselves, to never settle for our understanding of Christ, to constantly seek to become more Christlike in all things. He, in His humility, is still our Champion. It is finished.
Thanks for engaging and for your feedback, Adam. Jesus didn't flip the tables over on Palm Sunday. He did so on Holy Monday, the day after. Both my essay and my video are live for Holy Monday, where that teaching can be found. If you head back to my main Substack page, it's waiting there for you...
I know it is customary for preachers to make a point of contrasting the donkey with a war horse. But did any Israelite king ride a horse? Weren't they also on donkeys or mules? Egyptian kings rode in chariots. Only later did Roman emperors show off on war horses. On that day the Jewish leaders feared the triumphal entry would bring violence from the Romans, meek though we interpret it.
I don't know the history of how all Israel's Kings came riding in. However, the fact that Jesus came in on a donkey colt, that is to say a baby donkey, also is a picture of his humility.
“We often want a Savior who will fix our circumstances, not one who will transform our character. We long for relief from discomfort, but resist the invitation to die to self.”
Will be carefully chewing this over this week during my alone time.
I’ve loved coming back to your thoughts about Jesus’s gentleness on Palm Sunday from A Gentle Answer…
“Because Jesus Christ has loved us at our worst, we can love others at their worst. Because Jesus Christ has forgiven us for all of our wrongs we can forgive others who have wronged us. Because Jesus offered a gentle answer instead of pouring out punishment and rejection for our offensive and sinful ways, we can offer gentle answers to those who behave offensively and sinfully towards us. But make no mistake: Jesus’ gentle answer was bold and costly. His gentle answer included pouring his lifeblood and dying on a cross. Our gentle answer will be costly as well. We must die to ourselves, to our self-righteousness, to our indignation, and to our outrage.”
WOW!! So much conviction here for me! Help Lord, I need your help . Create in me a clean heart Oh God, Renee a steadfast spirit within me
🙏❤️
Jesus also cursed the fruitless fig tree and flipped the tables of the moneychangers in that same week. A double-edged sword of fire will protrude from His mouth upon His final return. This humble servant is also all-powerful and all-just.
Our God is a God of love and peace, but He is also a God of righteousness and wrathful judgment. He did not come to earth as Jesus to conquer the world but to conquer sin - and not in peace but in division due to those who choose not to believe (Luke 12:49-51).
We cannot even grasp a sliver of the full truth of the greatness of God. It is true that He humbled Himself as the Son to live and die as only He could, to avoid condemnation for those who trust Him. But all too often, painting the picture of the meek and humble Christ allows the lost to stay lost, in the belief that a false version of their own creation can save - that our God will overlook their sins without them completely dying to self.
What we can and must learn is to humble ourselves, to never settle for our understanding of Christ, to constantly seek to become more Christlike in all things. He, in His humility, is still our Champion. It is finished.
God bless y’all!
Thanks for engaging and for your feedback, Adam. Jesus didn't flip the tables over on Palm Sunday. He did so on Holy Monday, the day after. Both my essay and my video are live for Holy Monday, where that teaching can be found. If you head back to my main Substack page, it's waiting there for you...
Fantastic… I have that earmarked to read later today. I’m a day behind!
👊
😭🙏🏽✝️
I know it is customary for preachers to make a point of contrasting the donkey with a war horse. But did any Israelite king ride a horse? Weren't they also on donkeys or mules? Egyptian kings rode in chariots. Only later did Roman emperors show off on war horses. On that day the Jewish leaders feared the triumphal entry would bring violence from the Romans, meek though we interpret it.
I don't know the history of how all Israel's Kings came riding in. However, the fact that Jesus came in on a donkey colt, that is to say a baby donkey, also is a picture of his humility.
Thank you Scott!
“We often want a Savior who will fix our circumstances, not one who will transform our character. We long for relief from discomfort, but resist the invitation to die to self.”
Will be carefully chewing this over this week during my alone time.
I’ve loved coming back to your thoughts about Jesus’s gentleness on Palm Sunday from A Gentle Answer…
“Because Jesus Christ has loved us at our worst, we can love others at their worst. Because Jesus Christ has forgiven us for all of our wrongs we can forgive others who have wronged us. Because Jesus offered a gentle answer instead of pouring out punishment and rejection for our offensive and sinful ways, we can offer gentle answers to those who behave offensively and sinfully towards us. But make no mistake: Jesus’ gentle answer was bold and costly. His gentle answer included pouring his lifeblood and dying on a cross. Our gentle answer will be costly as well. We must die to ourselves, to our self-righteousness, to our indignation, and to our outrage.”