Written by Mark Driskill:
Monday April 18, 2011
Read John 12:12-19

How far will you allow the savior to ride into your life?

When Jesus came riding in Jerusalem he came on a donkey in fulfillment of ancient prophecy. He was met by crowds laying palm branches on the ground before him and chanting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” But as he rode amidst all the fanfare the people had no idea just how far his ride would take him.

To some Jesus was riding to the throne of Israel. They thought he was coming only to be king of this small country and return it to the glory days of King David. But he was riding toward a greater throne than that. They were hoping that as he rode in he would become their “King on a string.” He would be king just enough to make them a great nation again. But he came to be Lord of all. His ride goes beyond our intentions.

To others, Jesus was the man who had raised Lazarus from the dead. They all came out to meet this miracle worker who no doubt was riding in to amaze them with more miracles. But his ride was taking him much farther than that. When he raised Lazarus he had merely resuscitated him as Lazarus would someday die again. But Jesus was riding to accomplish something much greater than resuscitation. All they wanted was a miracle worker who could pump up their dead lives whenever they needed a jump start. But he came to bring a transformation of life that would never need to be pumped up again. His ride goes beyond our inclinations.

As Jesus rode into town the Pharisees exclaimed to one another, “Look the whole world has gone after him!” But only Israel was going after him at that point. You see to the Pharisees Israel WAS the whole world. They wanted a Messiah who would only be concerned for their narrow world view. They wanted him gone because he threatened to make their world a little bit larger. We all tend to get angry when Jesus wants us to think beyond our own self interests. We love Jesus as long as he keeps us comfortable with our families and friends. But when he calls us to look beyond our own kind we start changing our cry from “Hosanna” to “Crucify.”  Yet Jesus was riding to something much greater than the borders of one nation. His ride goes beyond our self interests.

This week as we celebrate Easter and many make that once a year trip to church to appease their conscience and fill up on bunnies and candy, let us seriously ask ourselves how far are we willing to let Jesus ride? In other words will he be nothing more to you than a king on a string, a mascot for your personal wants, a magician who can pump you up while continue living your own way? Will he be nothing more to you than a religious symbol or something to pray to when you need to feel better about life? Will you only allow him to ride in on Easter and Christmas? Or will this be the year that you finally realize just who Jesus Christ is?

When Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem, he was not riding in to be a rock star, a magician, or a temporary monarch. He rode in past the temple, past the throne, and past all the expectations of the thrill seekers. He rode all the way to a wooden cross and to a tomb. He rode in to take the sins of the whole world on his shoulders. He rode in to be beaten beyond recognition and mocked by those he loved the most. He rode in to carry our sin in his own body and then to be raised again on the third day. Then his ride took him beyond the grave where he ascended into heaven to rule in power forever. One day he will return, not on a donkey but on a white horse to judge the living and the dead. When that day comes he will either come as your judge or as your savior. Which will it be?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian resources-Evangelism Outreach www.hhcr05.org
(Feel free to copy in any way that will bring glory to God and further his kingdom.)

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.