Conforming (phase 2), - Jesus enters Jerusalem and the Temple- Concluding the Second Phase (step 21) - session 1

I should have paid more attention and started this step earlier in the week. There are seven scripture passages. I'll do what I can here, but there are other steps throughout Holy Week, so I may need to revisit some of this step later.

And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Beth'phage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, `The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them immediately." 

This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 
"Tell the daughter of Zion,
Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on an ass,
and on a colt, the foal of an ass."

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" 

And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee." - Mt 21:1-11

We'll hear a couple of "immediate prophecies" from Jesus this week; the situation with the colt is the first.

Yesterday at men's group we discussed how Jesus' perspective is so often so very different from our own. Each Palm Sunday I'm reminded of Michael Card's moving Ride on to Die, which reminds us that a city's lamentation underlies the praises of those welcoming Jesus to the city. We know that not enough people will accept him to prevent him being put to death within the week. (That I know of, the gospels do not necessarily indicate that these things happen in the same week. I'm not going down that rabbit hole right now, though it doesn't seem very deep.)  Even though he has tried to prepare his disciples, Jesus alone understands where these events are leading him. Still, he does not shrink back from the destiny for which the Father has sent him to us.

Blessed indeed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Let me not then crucify him with sinful decisions, with judgment that he has borne, with betrayal and denial and abandonment. Let me rather remain with him along the way, knowing my part in it but fully embracing his sacrifice.