LEARNING DAILY

Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey.”

Luke 19:35-36, Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.

“The Jewish people were looking for a Messiah that would conquer Rome and relieve the oppressive life they lived under Roman rule. But Jesus had come not to conquer the Roman government; He came to conquer the sin of the world” (Audrey’s notes). Her notes went on, “We often think Jesus came to fix what we want, so we miss the eternal restoration He brings.” Pastor Matt Martin said, “We acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah but argue with His ways.” Isaiah 55:8 states, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts”, says the Lord. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” (NLT). Jesus entered Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday not on a warhorse but on a donkey. He came not as a conquering king, solving an immediate problem. He came as a sacrificial lamb who would bring eternal peace.

Point number one made by Pastor Martin: “Jesus did not come to meet our expectations; He came to meet our needs.” Romans 5:6 states, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Audrey wrote in her notes, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came and died for sinners”. It is important that Believers have the right view regarding why Jesus left heaven and came to this world. “All people need a Savior “ (Pastor Martin). Believers today often see only the problem(s) before them just as the people thought Jesus would remove their problems with Rome. Believers must learn that when praying, God hears and answers according to what He knows is best to cause growth and maturity in their lives.

His second point was: “We want Jesus to change our circumstances; He wants to change us.” It is easy to get caught up with what Believers want to be changed in their lives, the “temporary stuff” faced each day (Pastor Martin). Read what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:3-5! Believers can rejoice when facing difficulties. That’s hard, right? However, Scripture teaches Believers to stay strong when facing difficulties; character is developed, and their hope does not disappoint as the love of God is poured out in them. In other words, “overcoming problems is about a change in the believer” (Pastor Martin).  

The third point: “We want peace for our situation; Jesus came so we could have peace with God.” Jesus Christ came to save everyone who would place their faith and trust in Him. When a person does, he/she needs to begin to live for eternity; that starts by walking a narrow path, living as God’s word directs them to. Audrey wrote in her notes, “The moment we realize our bones and body will pass but our soul will live on in the kingdom of heaven for all eternity, we can have true peace over what God is doing for us.” “Jesus cares about what is happening in you more than what is happening around you” (Pastor Martin). “The world tells you that peace exists when the economy and politics are good, but Jesus gives us peace beyond all understanding in the midst of every storm and trial. That pretty much describes walking the narrow way – facing each difficulty and trial as they come.

 Jesus may show up in the midst of your need in a way that you do not expect. The situation may not even change. But this you can know – when you place your situation in His hands, He will change you!