We see what’s going on around us… …and we silently pray “Jesus, I want to go home”, or “Jesus, come save us, come soon, come now…” But, wait, I have kids and grandkids. I have plans, things I want to do, achieve. I have people in my life I want to get to know better and have fun with…. I want, I need… So, Jesus, yes, I want you to come now, but, can you at least wait until… Wait? Until, what?
But, do we know what we are saying when we pray this prayer? Do we know what will happen when that prayer is finally answered? Do we understand the real implications of that prayer? That the time is now, that the end is here, that time’s up.
Matthew 24:36-41 36“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
Now, look around. Be present. Be(come) aware. What will happen to those around us when time has reached its end? Do we understand? Can we see? Can we imagine? If we do not understand, if we cannot see, if we cannot imagine… then we need to stop for a moment and consider…
God! What are you waiting for?? If it is hard for us to understand the implication of that prayer as to be patient with what is going on, to “put up with” what’s happening around us, what can we expect from the world? It is ours to come to understand, to realize that for every what that happens that grieves or angers us – there is a “who” that has done this “what”?
So, to understand what this prayer really means, we must see that there is a “who” that did that what, a who that needs saving. We must come to Jesus’ “hesitating” might mean salvation for that one, that “who” that is doing that grievous “what” that so deeply offends me. And then, it is ours remember, that at one time, not too long ago, that who was me, and that God’s hesitation to judge me, that patient waiting and putting up with (my “what”) is what saved me – the “who” that did that offensive “what” …
If we are having trouble understanding the implication of this prayer, how can we expect those around us, who do not (yet) know Jesus, who are breathing, even today, this morning, because of God’s mercy on them, that the sun is shining on them, because of God’s patience, that the rain has soaked their fields, because of God’s mercy on them – and that mercy is there because of their “what!” (Luke 6)
It’s ok to not understand the implication of that prayer, for the moment, because that is just what was happening on the first “Palm Sunday” – they did not understand what they were saying when they cried out “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes…”
Come now! Save us, now!
Save us, now! Yes! Come now! Yes! But, what of the others?
For God says “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” Ez 18:23
And again “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1Tm 2:1-4
And one more time “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
And this was Jesus’ heart – on Palm Sunday. Matthew 21
Let us rejoice, now! We have been saved! The Prince of Peace has entered into the Jerusalem of my heart, and I am saved, now!
But, now what? For what purpose have I now been saved and then left here? Is it not to be “sent”? and if sent, how, for what? In what manner and way?
May it not be forgotten… that it is God's mercy that saved us from His own righteous and just wrath…? It is His kindness toward us that is intended to bring us to repentance…. It was by Jesus' humility, His gentleness, that He invited us to come to Him, to find rest for our souls… that the very way Jesus was sent by the Father, so He has sent us.
Romans 12
It is in view of His mercy that we are to offer your body, now, as a living sacrifice, recognizing, more and more, what I did deserve, I am more and more grateful, and in gratitude and appreciation for His mercy, that we are compelled, moved, will gladly be holy and pleasing… offering ourselves for His serving, being transformed in mind, we begin to gladly put away the old way, and embrace the new - eagerly desiring to know and to do God’s will, with sincere love, mercy that does not seek (an even Right and just) revenge, but enters the life, the world, of our enemy, the person’s before me, with peace, in peace, offering peace, like one riding into a city, on a foal.
Giving drink to, feeding, praying for, blessing, doing, good to, our enemy… Is this not Jesus? Is this not what Jesus did, has done, does, is doing, and longs to do?
Is this not why we are to give room for God, knowing that trusting that He will avenge? And who might be the object of His avenging? Might it not be, mercifully, the enemy OF our “enemy”, who has them bound? That God would defeat him who binds and kills, while saving the one who torments us? And NOT, the one we assumed, the way we might have, as we would have come in on a horse, sword swinging, to avenge ourselves, and that even to avenge “God”, and that against the wrong enemy?
No, this one comes in peace, with mercy, on the foal, of a donkey, He enters on a foal… the prince of peace.
Where have we seen this before? Imagine Mary, being led by Joseph, through the fo the cold night, to Bethlehem, seated on a donkey… Luke 2 And peace to all on whom God’s favor rests… John 3 Sent by God not to condemn the world, but to save it. One more expression of peace – trying to get the “who” to understand the “what” and come and be saved… He mercifully comes in peace
Is this not how Jesus came? After He has done all that He has done? And that, humbly, gently, graciously to His enemy? Even the ones who would now pierce Him through with a sword?
Is this not how He entered into the Jerusalem of our hearts? Entering in peace? The sword being swung was not intended to slay me, His enemy (Ro 5), but my enemy, that had me bound - saving me from the clutches of the ruler of the kingdom of the air?
And so, how should we now go? In the same way? Who, really, is the enemy?
Jesus will come back, and sooner than we can imagine, and this time, yes, on a horse, the answer to our prayer “Hosanna, come now”.
Revelation 6:2; 14:14; 19:11 “Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war.”
But, in the meantime, to we understand the implication? Until then, and in the meantime… what are we to do? What Jesus did the way Jesus did it. “So the Father has sent me, so now, I send you”
And how are to go? Just like Jesus, grieving over the lost, tormented by their sin, restraining our wrath, entering into their lives doing good, restraining our desire for revenge, and instead… feeding, giving drink, clothing and doing good… by doing so, we are making room for Jesus' entrance into the Jerusalem of their hearts.
Do you ever find yourselves looking around at what is happening and just quietly whisper, “Jesus, come now”? Me too, but while longing for His return - we do not speed it up by praying for His coming (like the Jews thought, and were wrong on all counts - they wanted it now with violent revenge), but we speed Jesus’ coming, and this time on a horse, by being like Him, being sent like Him, going into the world, to save that are held captive by the ruler of this world, and that, as fast as we can - that’s what speeds Jesus’s return! Now Lord, but not yet! Give us time, but not too much…
Revelation 6:9-10 “I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Jesus in essence, “…soon, but “not yet, not until the very last person who will let me enter, let’s me, and is saved)
If we want His coming, we must come in like Jesus did, with the sorrowful, grieving heart of Jesus, and come not on a horse to condemn, but the foal of a donkey, in peace, mercifully, to save, at least some (1Cor )
Hating even the clothing stained by sin, we bring mercy and hope to the sinning, sinner, remembering, that that was (once) me….
