Daily Readings & Thought for July 20th. “BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU”
Matthew in his Gospel is more prolific than the other Gospel writers in quoting the Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. Today we have, in his 21st chapter, the account of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (v.4-11). Matthew writes, “this took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying ‘Behold your king is coming to you, mounted on a donkey … and the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! … Hosanna in the highest!’ And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up …” This event was so significant it is recorded in all 4 gospels.
What prophet had spoken this? We find this prediction in Zechariah [ch.9 v.9]. We also see the remarkable prophecies the disciples were later to make as recorded in the book of Acts (e.g., 3 v.20,21) and in their letters about his second coming; the scene will be truly awesome when true believers will be saying something like “Behold our king is coming in great glory.”
But, just as awesome, overwhelmingly so, will be his great power to bring vengeance on those who deny him, being totally blind to there being a Creator with a plan and purpose for his creation.
When we come to Matthew 24 on Sunday we will see how Jesus himself predicted his return. In v. 30 we read, “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Can we believe this? Dare we dis-believe? Verse 21 challenges us Israel is God’s fig tree. We see Israel described in this way in Joel 1 v.6,7 “For a nation has come up against my land … It has laid waste my vine and splintered my fig tree”
Back in our chapter in Matthew we read how Jesus says, of his return, it will be “a time when conditions on earth will be “as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until … so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” [v.37-39]
Let us read God’s word diligently – every day – and, if at all possible, be among fellow believers, who will all join in saying, “Behold our king is coming in great glory.” A final thoughts jumps out from our memory of what we read a few days ago in Ch. 16, “the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done“ [v.27] Let us meditate on these words today.
