Hail to the King of Israel!

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John 

August 28, 2024

Hail to the King of Israel!

“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.

Look, your King is coming,

    riding on a donkey’s colt.

John  12: 15

John masterfully mixes the symbolism of two separate Jewish festivals to mark Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The waving palm branches and references to Israel’s King in John 12:13 & 15 invoke memories of Hanukkah and Judas Maccabaeus becoming king. The large crowds were present because it was time for the Passover celebration in remembrance of God freeing Israel from slavery in Egypt. Thus, John is portraying Jesus as the Messiah King of Israel who sets people free from slavery to sin.

Even if those in the crowds did not fully appreciate the moment, the Pharisees did understand the claim Jesus was making. Their anger burned deep, so deep that they began to plot to kill Lazarus in retribution for the people believing in the sign of his miracle resurrection and becoming followers of Jesus.

I recall serving on a mission team several years ago. I was walking through a neighborhood, going door to door and giving away small potted plants, and taking prayer requests from the residents. Most were quite receptive and appreciative of our coming to their door. Most, but not all. I remember one man became very angry. He started yelling that no one was going to take him away from his church. I half expected him to throw the plant at me as he slammed the door. Two doors down, we were greeted with, “I was hoping you would come to my house. Please come in and pray with us.”

My Takeaway: It is good to be passionate and personally invested in your beliefs. It is not so good if those beliefs bind you so that you are void of common courtesy, or worse, as was the case with the Pharisees. 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.