Today’s reading

Exodus 25-26; Matthew 21:1-22

Selected Verses

There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel. Exodus 25:22

Say to the daughter of Zion,
“Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” Matthew 21:5

Reflections

Although it is humanity that has rebelled and offended God, it is God who initiates reconciliations and makes the way for people to find Him. It is God who gives Moses a plan for a tabernacle and an ark upon which the Lord promises to meet with him and speak with him. All of the rituals of the tabernacle would point to Jesus Christ, God’s Anointed One, who came to Zion in humility riding a donkey.

In Jerusalem, crowds gathered to see the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee as He rode into the city. They spread their cloaks and tree branches in His path and acclaimed Him, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” They recognized Him as the heir to the throne of David, the kingdom that would last forever.

The Triune God always initiates. He always made the first move and He continues to make the first move. Adam hid from God. God sought him anyway. He came to Moses and met him above the mercy seat of the ark in the tabernacle. He came to Jerusalem, cleansed the temple, and healed the sick.

Think about it

He comes to us. He graciously makes the move to restore us to Himself, though we deserve nothing but judgment, punishment, and eternal death. We have tried to hide from Him. We naturally flee His holy presence, not willing to admit that we are dead in sin without Him. We cannot respond until He breathes into us and gives us new life that inevitably results in faith and repentance.

Praise God for reaching out to His own people, for grasping hell-bent sinners and rescuing them from His just wrath. Will we to whom He has come imitate His grace and reach out to those who need forgiveness and good news of salvation through Jesus Christ? Think about it

© 2017 John A Carroll Used by permission