Quote from Forum Archives on April 11, 2003, 7:10 pm

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional
(Over 8,000 subscribers in 75 countries)

04.11.03

Welcome Him!

"So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the
donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a
very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down
branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes
who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: 'Hosanna to the
Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in
the highest!' And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved,
saying, 'Who is this?' So the multitudes said, 'This is Jesus, the prophet
from Nazareth of Galilee.'" - Matthew 21:6-11.

This week we have seen the joy of many in Iraq as they welcomed the American
and British troops riding into their cities in Abrams tanks and Bradley
fighting vehicles. The troops were welcomed with cheers, flowers, and the
destruction of one statue of Saddam after another. The troops brought with
them liberation from the cruel oppression of the Iraqi dictator who has held
the country hostage for over two decades. There is still looting but there
is also great jubilation over the freedom that they apparently now enjoy.

A week before the crucifixion of Jesus he was welcomed as the Messiah, as
the One who would bring freedom to His people. The people rejoiced at the
presence of this Jesus who performed miracles and could even feed the
multitudes with only a few pieces of bread and fish. The people laid their
clothes and palm branches before Jesus so He would not have to walk upon the
bare ground. There were people everywhere and they were pushing and
shoving - hoping to obtain a glimpse of Jesus, or perhaps even to touch Him
as He rode by. The noise would have been incredible with the people
shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name
of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!"

Jesus is a different kind of Savior than that experienced by the Iraqi
people. But the liberators that Iraq is experiencing are the type of
liberators that those in Jerusalem wanted. They wanted a leader like the
judges of old or perhaps like King David who would lead them in triumphant
battle against the Romans winning their independence. But Jesus came not to
establish a physical kingdom on earth but a spiritual kingdom in the hearts
of all peoples. That spiritual kingdom is still the one we need most of all
whether we live in the United States or in Iraq. We need the spiritual
liberation that only Jesus can give to us.

Have you welcomed Jesus into your heart and life? If not I would encourage
you to do so now. Allow Jesus to come into your heart and life and
establish His kingdom and reign.

Copyright © 2003. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited.

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