April 9 | Matthew 21:1-11

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DAILY READING

Matthew 21:1-11

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REFLECTION

Your King Comes

By Beth Voltmann

 “‘See your king comes to you,

Gentle and riding on a donkey...”

 (Matthew 21:5)

We celebrate this moment in the life of Jesus as Palm Sunday – the “Triumphal Entry”. Had the disciples truly understood what the day signified, perhaps they would have attempted to keep Jesus from traveling such a route, but there would be no stopping this moment. Prophecy was being fulfilled and Jesus was fully aware of the path he was on – a path of deep suffering and sorrow but one of obedience to the Father that would lead to salvation for all who would believe.

Jesus had recently been attracting attention in the region. Many had heard the tale of how Lazarus was raised from the dead. They had watched in amazement as the blind were healed and observed the life-altering change in Zacchaeus, the tax collector, once Jesus called him down from the tree.

Now, on this day, as Jesus headed toward Jerusalem, the masses were swelling with excitement and  the crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna” (meaning SAVE). “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (v. 9)

This story always stirs discomfort in my heart because I know what is coming. The crowds will turn on him in just a few short days from this celebration. It reminds me a bit of how our enthusiasm waxes and wanes for the coach of our local, beloved football team. For weeks we cheer and applaud as our team miraculously leads the conference in competition, but the moment we experience a sudden loss (to an un-named team from the north) our affection changes!

I recently read an article that Denzel Washington (actor and now minister) was asked to speak to a group of young athletes. He was quoted as saying,

“Rely on the Almighty.

Do not rely on this world for your happiness,

because it’ll tell you Tuesday that they love you,

and Wednesday that they hate you.”

Jesus knew the people’s propensity towards hostility  – the fine line between love and hate in response to sin. He knew what was coming, and yet, he was fully present in this moment of rousing adoration and praise. He welcomed the cries of “Hosanna!” This was the way of the cross. He was willing. He trusted the plan of his Father, and humbled himself to obey.

PRAYER

Lord, may we, too, be fully present in the joy and celebration of this coming Palm Sunday. We believe and trust in your perfect plan and worship Jesus as our king who saves! Thank you for a Messiah who willingly lived among us, aware of our sinfulness, and resolutely walked cross-ward to make a way for our salvation. Thank you that he is still fully present to celebrate with us today even though he is aware of our failures of tomorrow. We pray for obedient hearts to follow in the footsteps of Jesus to the cross. Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BETH VOLTMANN

After moving to Ohio in 1997 with my husband and four children, I developed a hunger for God’s Word through adult teaching and women’s Bible study at UALC. My passion is to help others understand Scripture so that they may grow in their desire for more of God and experience the new life offered to us through Christ Jesus.

April 8 | Luke 19:28-40

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DAILY READING

Luke 19:28-40

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REFLECTION

If They Keep Quiet

By Pam Mann

How did the owner of the colt know to trust his animal to Jesus’ disciples? Maybe he’d had a dream in which the Lord gave him a heads-up. Or, maybe he just felt a peace about lending the colt when the disciples explained what they were doing. I want to hear this guy’s story in heaven.

There was so much excitement running through the throng that day as Jesus entered into Jerusalem. Weren’t lots of people thinking Jesus could be the Messiah? Wouldn’t the Passover be an ideal time to reveal His plan for the nation? Since even the disciples didn’t get what was ahead this week for Jesus, most of the crowd was likely confused about what was awaiting Jesus in Jerusalem.

One group of people, however, was not excited about Jesus and the miracles he’d accomplished. That was the Pharisees. They were particularly annoyed that the crowds were shouting praises to the Messiah that belonged to them. “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” said the Pharisees to Jesus, as if He wasn’t paying close enough attention to what was happening. But Jesus heard the crowds. He responded to the Pharisees, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

I had related this story to third grade students when I was a teacher at a Christian school in Haiti. We talked about how God intends for His people to be the ones praising Him. Of all that God has created, we are the creatures with the best capacity to worship Him. That day I said, “Wouldn’t it be terrible if God’s people did not praise Him and the rocks had to do it?”

Students mentioned how the beauty of a colorful sunset praises God. They said birds can sing praise to Him. Then, a car alarm sounded just outside our classroom window. This would happen from time to time, blasting for a minute or so before it stopped as abruptly as it began.

I asked the class, “Is that what the rocks would sound like while praising God?”

Several of the more gregarious kids in the class exchanged concerned glances. One boy exclaimed, “We can’t let a machine outdo us!” More than half the class jumped to their feet, lifting their arms and shouting praises to God. When the car horn quit blaring, they also sat with satisfied smiles. I was smiling, too, and commented that Jesus was no doubt pleased that they could praise Him longer and louder than a car horn.

After that day, whenever that car alarm went off, that class would stop whatever we were doing and have a brief praise-Jesus session. They were committed to not keeping quiet. And what about you?

PRAYER

Thank You, Jesus, that You accepted to be the humble king riding into Jerusalem to die in our place. We don’t want to keep quiet or be outdone by the rest of creation in praising You. Give the words and ways to rightly praise You. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.

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April 7 | Luke 19:11-27

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DAILY READING

Luke 19:11-27

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REFLECTION

Time as God's Gift

By Dave Mann

I really appreciate this Parable of the Minas.  I have come to value this text, especially through employing the principle of interpreting Scripture with Scripture.

Comparing the Parable of the Mina (Luke 19:11-27) with the Parable of the Bags of Gold (Matthew 25:14-30), we see these two parables have several similarities but are not identical.  In both parables, the master invests certain sums of wealth into the hands of his servants.  He charges the servants “to put his money to work.”  Then, he leaves for a time.  When he returns, he considers what the servants have done to put their master’s wealth to work.  In both parables, the third servant had done nothing to increase the master’s wealth and he was harshly scolded for lack of action.

However, there are also key differences between these two parables.  In Matthew 25, the servants were entrusted with varying amounts of wealth based on their ability.  One received five bags of gold, another two bags, and the third only one.  This distribution reflects what we see in life.  Some people naturally have greater possibilities – wealth, abilities, connection with sources of opportunity.

In Luke 19, all ten servants received the same amount – one mina.  (A mina was worth about three months’ wages.)  We are told of the yield of two of the servants.  One produced ten additional minas; another produced five.  But one servant was afraid and only hid the master’s money, awaiting the master’s return with nothing additional produced during that time.

It is easy to nod in agreement with the set-up in Matthew 25 that people are naturally endowed with varying possibilities in life.  But what is it, as in Luke 19, that all of us receive equal amounts of?  We all receive the same amount of time – 24 hours per day.  Whether rich or poor, very talented or of modest skill, well-connected or unknown by the societal shakers and movers, we all receive 24 hours per day – no more, no less.  Time is a gift from God.  It belongs to him.  What do we do with that gift of grace?  One day there will be an accounting.  For now, the Holy Spirit is available to lead us in the path of effective use of the Lord’s time which he has entrusted to us.

Here are additional Scriptures in which the Lord can give us perspective on the gift of time – Ecclesiastes 3:1-11; Colossians 4:5-6; Ephesians 5:15-16.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, thank you for the gift of 24 hours every day.  Please awaken my mind throughout the day, as you cause my path to cross with others’.  Help me to invest my hours appropriately with the opportunities you bring my way, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.

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