Hail to the King of Israel!

Monday, February 17, 2014       Hail to the King of Israel!

John  12: 9-19

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 12:13b and 12:15b 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 all in the crowds did not fully appreciate the depth of John’s theological observation, the Pharisees did understand the claim John was making. Their anger burned deep, so deep 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 Celebrate Jesus mission 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. 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

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(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. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.