Palm Sunday
Monday, March 30 Matthew 19:16-30
“He went away sadfor he had many possessions”
The rich young man’s wealth prevented himfrom entering the kingdom of heaven. From this we learn that one should be careful of the lure of wealth (seeMatthew 13:22). This passage does notsuggest that wealth is wrong, but it does suggest that there is something aboutwealth that can choke off the effectiveness of the gospel and keep one from eternallife.
Transformation of one’s heart begins byexchanging the treasure of one’s life for the treasure of heaven. Jesus knew full well the controlling issue ofthe rich young man’s life – it was his wealth, which provided him power,significance, and status. Wealth hadbecome his god; it determined his values, priorities, and ambitions. Jesus called him to exchange it for followinghim in discipleship in the kingdom of heaven. The young man’s turning away is tragic, but it becomes a powerfulillustration of the way we need to keep short account of what is ruling ourlives. Even Christians can misplacetheir allegiance, so each person must be honest with himself or herself to knowwhat is the treasure of their heart.
If you are to be Lord of my life, Jesus,I can have no other gods. Amen.
Tuesday, March 31 Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdomof heaven is like . . .”
This is a parable of the kingdom ofheaven, presenting the nature of God’s grace. The employer sends laborers into his vineyard throughout the day as hefinds them unemployed in the marketplace. At the end of the day he pays them all the same wage, for his compassionrecognizes that it takes just as much money to feed the families of those whohave only worked a short time as it takes to feed the families of those who haveworked all day.
Grace is extended to all alike. The story illustrates that not all respondalike to God’s goodness, for some compare and evaluate their own “goodness” andthereby fail to understand God’s graciousness. The fact that all of us alike are sinners places us together, withoutdistinction or degrees of merit, in need of God’s gracious acceptance. The story answered the murmurings of thePharisees who were indignant over Jesus’ act of accepting tax collectors andprostitutes into the kingdom. The words,“You have made them equal to us” in verse 12 echoes their discontent.
Ipraise you, Lord, for graciously accepting me into your kingdom. Amen.
Wednesday, April 1 Matthew 20:17-19
“Jesus told them what was going to happen to him”
The death of Jesus was not anaccident. The confrontation with “theprincipalities and powers of this world” was inevitable and Jesus knewthis. His going to Jerusalem wasconsciously a part of God’s movement in history to confront sin and provideredemption for sinners. When Jesus tookthe disciples away from the crowds to prepare them for the events that wouldhappen, it became the third time in the gospel that he had spoken of his death.
Jesus added progressively new dimensionsto the information. He had previouslypredicted his death and resurrection, then in the second reference he added thefactor of betrayal, and here he added his knowledge that he would be turnedover to the Gentiles to be mocked, scourged, and crucified. Referring to crucifixion added both horrorand humiliation to the prediction. Butresurrection continued to stand against crucifixion, preparing the disciples inunderstanding and hope. Their hope isours, as well. In his resurrection isour assurance of eternal life, for he was crucified for our sins and raisedagain for our salvation.
Dear God, inJesus you fulfilled your plan for my forgiveness and salvation. Amen.
Thursday, April 2 Matthew 20:20-28
“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve”
The request for top position exposes thenature of selfish ambition. Thedisciples’ interest was in status and power, not empathy and participation inthe suffering of Christ which he had just discussed. The conversation that followed emphasized thecost to the disciples in participating fully with him in his mission, seen inJesus’ prediction that they would share martyrdom for the will and work ofGod. The reaction of the ten towardJames and John showed their similar ambitions, giving Jesus the occasion toteach the meaning of true greatness.
The contrast between the way of rulers andthe way of disciples is interpreted by Jesus through his own mission. To be truly great is to serve. To be in first place in the work of God is tobecome a servant for the enrichment of others. Here there are two kinds of love: love expressed as personal power usedto help a weaker person, and love expressed as personal power used to help a peeror colleague. Both expressions are positionsof service to the other, but the second kind may be the more difficult becauseit is affirming a potential competitor.
As a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I will serve others in hisname. Amen.
Friday, April 3 Matthew 20:29-34
“Lord,we want to see”
This was the last episode of compassionatehealing before Jesus entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was leaving Jericho on the way to Jerusalem, two blind men keptcalling out to him and the crowd tried to silence them. But Jesus stopped the whole procession to payattention to these men in need. Withcompassion Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they were able to see.
The story is told of a poet and an artistviewing a painting by Nicolas Poussin, the French master. The picture represented the healing of theblind man at Jericho. The artist askedthe poet to relate what he saw as the most remarkable thing in the painting. The poet responded by noting the excellentpresentation of the figure of Christ, of the grouping of the people, and theexpressions on their faces. But theartist pointed to the corner of the canvas where the painter had pictured adiscarded cane lying on the steps of a house, and said, “Look! The blind man sat on those steps with hiscane in hand. But when Jesus called himto himself, he was so sure that he would be healed that he left his canebehind.”
I have come toyou in confident trust, Lord, leaving my old life behind. Amen.
Saturday, April 4 Matthew 21:1-11
“Theentire city of Jerusalem was stirred as Jesus entered”
Jesus enters Jerusalem on a Sunday, fivedays before he is crucified. All fourGospels record this occasion and its significance. He arrives not on a war horse as a symbol ofpower, but on the colt of a donkey as a symbol of humility. He is the peaceful King of the people of God,not a revolutionary with political ambition.
As Jesus enters Jerusalem for his finalweek, everything about his person and mission comes to a climatic focus for theculmination of his earthly assignment. Everything he taught and every miracle and tender act of kindness he hasperformed now find their ultimate meaning in the deeds of this final week. He announces the arrival of the kingdom ofheaven and its good news of salvation from sin. This final week culminates his kingdom mission by establishing at the“Lord’s Supper” the new covenant in his blood. With his sacrifice on the cross, forgiveness for humanity’s sin isaccomplished, which becomes the basis for the creation of a new humanity inChrist with the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
During Holy Week,Jesus, we will remember your death, burial and resurrection. Amen.