Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

The King on a Donkey
Read Mark 11:1-19

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" Mark 11:9-10

Life is full of surprises. Often, things do not happen quite like we expect them to. We meet people we have heard about and we find them to be different from what we thought they would be. A meeting at work or a gathering of friends does not unfold as we had envisioned it beforehand.

Sometimes God surprises us. At times, He comes to us in unexpected ways. We may have desired a lightning bolt or at least some handwriting on the wall. But while we might have expected God to come to us through some dramatic event, He may come in a quiet way, almost unnoticed and without fanfare.

Jesus came in an unexpected way into Jerusalem. He came riding on a colt, instead of a war stallion. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He encountered a shouting crowd. This was the reception of the King. Some people rejoiced with shouts of praise. But did they really receive Him for who He was? Jesus went into Jerusalem in humility and gentleness. This is also symbolic of the fact that Jesus comes to us now in humility and gentleness.

We may want God to speak in thunderous tones, but God chooses to speak to us often in the still, small voice as in the case of Elijah. Expect to hear God's voice in unexpected ways and to recognise it as His voice.

Pray that we will always receive Jesus for who He is and to listen to His still small voice, whenever He speaks to us.

Can you hear His voice as He speaks to you today? Listen to Him as He whispers to your heart, “Follow Me.” “Follow Me to the Cross where your sins can be forgiven.” “Follow Me in sharing the Good News with those for whom I died.” “Follow Me in sacrifice.” “Follow Me in surrender.”