Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem
Mark 11
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
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New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Since Mike was ill and wanted to stay in bed, I decided to go alone to the Old City in Jerusalem. I hopped onto a bus at the Central Bus Station which was right near our hotel, and was deposited at the Jaffa Gate. I was so thrilled! As I walked into the Old City, I heard some lively music playing, and my feet involuntarily did a couple of dance steps. Evidently, that was the WRONG thing to do in that environment, because I was immediately surrounded by a group of Arab men who started harassing me. I broke away and ran into the narrow streets surrounded by tourists, shopkeepers, and street merchants. Ducking into a quiet street, I saw a little donkey tied up in front of a building. As I headed for the donkey, I saw an open door, and ducked inside a beautiful, quiet, empty church. (It was the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.)
Sitting in the pew, in the cool, dark church that wasn't even my "denomination", I caught my breath and prayed. I knew that I was safe. I also learned an important lesson about different countries and cultures, and about what NOT to do when you are a lone woman in the Middle East. One of those things is that you DON'T dance in the street unless you are part of a big group.
Today's Chapter in Mark parallels Matthew 21:5 and John 12:15. It is a quotation from the Ancient Prophet Zechariah 9:9.
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will never know who "parked" his donkey next to The Church of the Redeemer. But I do know, that, at that moment in time, Jesus was the one who saved me.
And that's what the word "Hosanna"actually means... "Save Me".
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)
God Bless America.
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS