Matthew 21:1–11 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 21:1–11 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 21When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, Verse 2saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. Verse 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." Verse 4This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, Verse 5"Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." Verse 6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; Verse 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. Verse 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Verse 9The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Verse 10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" Verse 11The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
Devotion
I wonder if, for those living in Jerusalem during Jesus’ time, the image of their king mounted on the foal of a donkey was a bit like Monty Python’s King Arthur galloping to the sound of clacking coconuts—embarrassing at best, ridiculous at worst. God deals in the ridiculous. The message of the cross is foolishness. Humble and mounted on a donkey, taking on the suffering of shame and embarrassment, Jesus rejects the presumed narrative of power and prestige and turns it on its head. Jesus is on a quest not for fame and glory in the kingdom of this world but to make a new kind of kingdom. Even his mother, Mary, knew the story before his birth as she sang of the kingdom where the lowly will be lifted up, the poor will become filled, and the rich will be sent away empty. Blessed are the fools, for the wisdom of the cross will be theirs.
Prayer
Oh God, you have suffered for us and because of us. Lord of power, help me to resist the temptations and power of this world. Amen.
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