And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

– Luke 19:47-48

The day He came to town was quite spectacular. The crowds gathered, calling His name, waving palm fronds and spreading their cloaks on the ground. He rode on the colt of a donkey. People sang His praises and worshipped Him in a great loud voice. The Jewish leaders were first astonished and then vexed (I love this word!). The leaders demanded He silence the crowd. He said something to them that if He tried to stop the crowds, that even rocks would continue the din. Rocks! I mean come on; rocks are rocks, they can’t speak! Then He predicted that their enemies will descend on them and take away everything they held dear. He went to the temple and tore apart their tables which they were selling salvation. Then he had the audacity to teach in their temple and he did this every day. They were powerless to stop Him. Why? Who was this guy? How dare he!

He is Jesus! God’s only Son. The leaders did not know Him. Eventually, a lot of these same people that celebrated His arrival, would turn against Him as well but today, they were, as the text states, “hanging on His words.” God sent Jesus to save us from our sins: to save us from ourselves. He took our place. In doing so, He brought us back to God. What greater gift is there?

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
– Psalm 34:3

Prayer:

Our Gracious Lord, no greater gift has ever been given to us than the gift of your Son, Jesus. Thank you!

Daily Reading: Luke 19

– Contributed by Tom Johnson