02. The King of Love (pt1)
Tuesday 13th Feb
(for more details see here)
Pause:
Take rest in the strength and safety of Christ’s love surrounding and sustaining you.
O Lord, You are the God who is Love itself, love’s true source and constant driving force
So to encounter You is to enter the Powerful Presence of Passion - Pure, Precious Passion
A Passion that nothing in all creation can separate us from.
Nothing done to us and nothing done by us can slow it or stop it.
Nothing.
The worst-case scenario of our lives – to lose or to lessen the flow Your love – is not even a possibility.
It has never crossed Your mind as an option…
not even for a moment.
And yet, in moments of frailty, fragility, frostiness and fear – it has crossed our minds, like an unwanted trespasser, an uninvited guest, an unwelcome tenant.
So here in Your Presence, would you heal our hurts, hold our hearts, and help our unbelief?
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Streets throbbing with people – families, residents, pilgrims, strangers… and there amongst the multitude, on the street corners and at the town gates, the unwelcome presence of the ever-watchful Roman guard. There was never any let-up from them, but they were particularly alert during Festival times such as these. And who could blame them? It was the time we forgot all restraint and sang aloud our ancient promises, remembering and retelling in bold, bright symbolism our Freedom Story. A freedom their very existence now denied, spoiled and tainted.
Today though, the Guard are especially unsettled: this impromptu celebration centres around a single person… One the crowds hold as a Prophet. To the Guard, Jesus of Nazareth had been a trouble-maker from the very beginning - just three short years ago. He has the ability to birth in people that most dangerous thing of all – hope.
To Rome - hope is childish dream to be left behind; but to this Jesus – hope is living and breathing and present and available to all. To Rome – He is a merely another revolutionist, but to the people – He is King. And Rome is scared.
Today, He rides in to a rising avalanche of cheers and chants. His parade wakes up a long-forgotten dream - long-hushed words now bellow in the streets:
“Blessed is One who comes in the Name of the Lord…"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!”
The Pharisees look on too. A potent mix of disgust and anger is painted on their fuming faces. To us His Name on our lips is like sweet like wine, whilst the same name on theirs is a bitter vinegar: “Look at this! The whole world’s gone after Him!”
The King has come! His Kingdom is here! Not galloping through, high up on a War Horse: but low down at our level, among His people here.
Close enough to be touched.
Strong enough to save.
Finally, The Kingdom of Peace has come.
His song is exhilarating!
His presence is life-giving!
Long may it last!
Long may He reign!
Reflection:
In less than a week, these same streets will once more be lined with crowds. And Jesus’ journey through the streets will once again be the centre of attention. And the same crowds who once cried: “Hosanna!” (which means “Save us!”) will cry: “Crucify!”.
And yet in a strange way, although these two days couldn’t feel more different from each other, they are actually crying for the same thing.
Jesus will save us – but it will take His cross to do it.
Jesus is King – but His enthronement (or “lifting up”) will not on a throne of gold but a cross of wood.
He will wear the crown – but His will be made not of jewels but of thorns.
Question for Today:
Think about the places and the people that make up your day today. Ask yourself: “Lord Jesus, how might I welcome Your more of rule and more of Your peace in my world today?”
Prayer:
King Jesus, would forgive us for all those times when we have welcomed You on our own terms
When we have called You King, but offered to You our own terms of appointment
When we have called You Lord but failed to obeyed Your word
Save us, King Jesus! By Your cross, save us.
Save us from the kingdoms of cynicism, pessimism and fear, may Your hope conquer us.
Save us from shallowness, and from a faith that is swept along by the crowd, when Your presence is near to all.
Save us from judgmentalism, tribalism and suspicion.
May Your peace pervade our hearts, and be the celebrated song on the streets once more.
I prayed this.
My prayer for today: (if you would like to, please feel free to add your own prayer here)