St. Matthew, Chapter 21, verse: 8, The humble and the lowly paid him homage .

Our paragraph topic is:  (Triumphal entry into Jerusalem) Part 3. 

They heard that he was coming.  And the word spread of his arrival.  They came to see, they came to hear, they came that they could be a part of his arrival.  They were simple folks.  They were poor, they were humble, they were the downtrodden and the suffering.  But they believed in him.  They had faith in him that he would change their world, change their suffering, change their pain into joy.  They believed.

So they came out to meet him.  They had no horns or drums to announce his coming.  They had no confetti to welcome him, but they had their cloaks.  And they found a way to honor him, a way to praise him, a way to give him the glory that he deserved.  And most of the crowd spread their cloaks upon the road, while others were cutting branches from trees, and strewing them on the road. 

This was their time to celebrate.  This was their time to rejoice.  This was their time to show to the world the coming of the Messiah and their belief in him.  They were not the governors, or the priests, or the men of power, or the merchants of the day.  These were the common folk, the people who had heard the word, the people who were poor and downtrodden, the everyday common people who were trying to eek out a living in those trying times.

And Christ came onto the scene.  He heals the sick and the word travels.  He cast out demons and the word goes forth.  He cures the lepers and open the eyes of the blind, and makes the lame walk, and forgives the sins of those who are sinners.  He raises the dead to demonstrate to those who believe that he is the Messiah, the Son of God.  And the word becomes wildfire and spreads throughout the land.  And now he comes to the annual celebration of the Passover and all want to see, all want to know, all want to be a part of the new beginning that he brings.

Only a hand full know what is about to happen.  Only the few have been warned of the sacrifice.  Only a few follow in horror of the greatest suffering that is about to take place for one so innocent and unblemished as Christ.  They did not know what was happening.  They did not understand why this was taking place.  They thought that he came to take over the kingdom, to be ruler of the world, to transform all the evil that was taking place.  They did not know or fully believe that he came to be the sacrifice, the propitiation for our sins.  They did not know that he would rise again, triumphant over death, never to die again.  They only knew that they could see what was in front of them and what they saw was horror.

Two thousand years later we know why he came.  It has been given to us to see the church that he created through the disciples.  It has been given to us to know of his sacrifice, of his suffering, of his pain, of his death, of his resurrection, and of his ascension into heaven to sit at the right hand of his Father.  We who believe know the why and the wherefore.  That has been given to us.  What we do not know is when he will return, when the words will be fulfilled.  Will you be ready?  Do you believe?  Do you know who you are in Christ?

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ.   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 21, verse: 7, They paid him homage.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Triumphal entry into Jerusalem) Part 2. 

They had no white stallion for him to ride.  They had no parade for him to be seen in.  They had no twenty-one gun salute to honor him.  They only had the ass and the colt for him to ride upon.  So as simple men they paid honor and tribute in their own simple way.

The people were with them.  They knew that he would come to the celebration.  They were waiting.  They were looking for him.  They all had heard of his miracles and his deeds.  And they expected him to come to Jerusalem to bring about change.  And the little people, the poor, the downtrodden, the beggars, those in pain and suffering from oppression sought him out and paid homage to him in their own simple way.  And they brought the ass and the colt, laid their cloaks on them, and made him sit thereon. 

This was what they knew how to do.  They were poor and lowly people who worship the Messiah.  Others could not see. Others did not believe.  Most were skeptical and refused to believe in the word that they heard.  Yet here he was, coming into Jerusalem, into their mist for the celebration of the year.  The little ones saw and believe.  They knew that he was the Messiah.  There was no doubt in their minds or in their hearts.  They knew that he had come to bring about change.  But they did not know how the change would happen.

He has said that he will return, that all will see and know.  He has said that he will return on a cloud for all to see.  And we wait with patience for that day, that time, that hour when we must be ready for his coming.  Will you be ready?  Will you be prepared?  Or will the thief catch you asleep and not on guard? 

We live in a world with many distractions, where we can be blind to the truth.  We have opportunities to play, and relax, and to enjoy all that the world has to offer.  We have opportunity to get caught up in the pleasures of the world and opportunity to forget who we are.  Be not blinded.  Be not caught up in the pleasures.  Be not deceived into believing that the day will never come.  For certain as we live and breathe the day is fast approaching.  And our time is limited.  The day is not given to us.  The hour is not ours to have.  The thief will come and take away all, when you are not ready.  Be in guard at all times.  It is written for all to see, for all to know.  And the word will be fulfilled.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ.   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 21, verse: 6, They went and did.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Triumphal entry into Jerusalem) Part 1. 

These were the instructions:  Go into the village and there you will find an ass and a colt tied.  Bring them to me.  If anyone should question you, tell them the master has need of them.  He did not tell them the why and the wherefore of his need of the ass and the colt.  He did not give them an explanation of what he was about to do with them.  He simply gave them instructions to follow.
And they followed the instructions as they were given to them.  So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 

Often times we are given instructions to do something and it makes sense to us.  Get me a cup of coffee.  Get the mail.  Take the trash out.  Come eat your dinner.  These are all simple instructions that make sense to use because we are familiar with their meaning and their purpose.  But were if we are given instructions that do not make sense to us.  Go and stand on the corner and wait for a black car to come by and give you something.  Go down the street and look under the red car and there you will find something of value to you.  Tomorrow your wife will have some good news for you that you have been expecting. 

These are all instructions that do not make sense to us on the surface.  It is not that the instructions are something that we are not physically able to complete.  It is just that they do not satisfy our sense of why we are to do these things.  And it is that question why that brings us hesitation and doubt.  We are given fortune cookie instructions and expected to believe that they will come true.  It is the why and the wherefore that opens the door to doubt and hesitation and resistance to completing the instructions.

If Christ were to tell us that he will take care of us, that he will provide for us, it would be that same why and wherefore and  how that opens the door to doubt and resistance to belief.  He is our Lord and Savior.  He delivered us from damnation and delivered us from evil.  Yet it is the how and the why and the wherefore that leads us to disbelief and doubt.  Yet for those who hold onto their belief and know that the words of Christ are real and true, they come to know and see his miracles in their lives.  It is not a question of why and wherefore of those who believe, but a question of patience and knowledge that he will fulfill his words. 

The disciples went and did as he instructed.  Why can not we do the same?

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ.   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 21, verse: 5, Thy King Cometh.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus sends two disciples into Jerusalem) Part 5.  

The words were spoken through the prophets for all to hear.  They were written in the books for all to see.  And they were waiting for fulfillment so that they may return to the Father complete from their purpose.  The rules were in place long ago.  The disciples were given the instructions by the rules so that the words written could be fulfilled.  And Christ spoke the words that were uttered by the prophets so that they would be fulfilled.

The disciples did not know.  They were given the instructions to follow.  It was only after the words were fulfilled that they realized the significance of their actions and the role they played in the completion of the word fulfilled.  "Tell the daughter of Sion: Behold, thy king comes to thee, meek and seated upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of a beast of burden."

And now we understand the purpose of the instructions.  God works in mysterious ways, ways that are not available for man to understand.  He has given us the words that we might follow.  They have been written for us to follow if we wish.  They are waiting for completion that we might further understand the will of God our Father.  Patience is the key.

He has told us of his love.  He has told us of his mercy.  He has told us of his forgiveness of our sins.  He has given us a new start, a new life, a new beginning.  Those who believe will follow.  Those who see will know.  Those who want will understand the need for patience to see the fulfillment of the word.  Those who want will come to know who they are in Christ and understand that their heavenly Father loves them.

We are a chosen people.  Chosen by God to pass through the trials and tribulations of this life to be transformed into the spiritual beings that we are, created in the spirit and likeness of our heavenly Father.  Out of the love and kindness of his heart he created the heavens, the earth and all that dwells within.  He created the angels, powers and principalities that exist in heaven and he created us, mankind.  He gave us life eternal that we might know him and love him.  And he gave his only son to come, walk with us, die for us, and to be the substitute for the propitiation of our sins.  We are blessed if we do not loose sight of who we are.  For the word has been spoken.  The time has come.  And the fulfillment of its purpose is at hand.  Will you be a participant in its completion?  The choice is yours.  Come!  Join the living spirits that have gone before that you too may know the truth of who you are in Christ.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ.   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.