Sunday Shorts: Save Us!

Mark 11:9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

When the crowd cried out “Hosanna!” on that first Palm Sunday, they were hoping that Jesus was the Messiah everyone had been waiting centuries for. The word ‘Hosanna’ means ‘save us,’ so the question arises: from what were they needing Jesus to save them?

            If we consider what was happening in Jerusalem, Judea, and Galilee at that time, then there is every indication that the Palm Sunday crowd were expecting Jesus to save His people from the Roman occupation. In other words, they were wanting Him to save their nation; they were looking to Jesus for a political solution to their problems.

            But Jesus wasn’t there to answer their political needs, nor their nationalistic prayers. He was sent by God to be the Savior of their souls. He wasn’t going to be coerced into being their political, populist champion. In fact, days later when the governor Pontius Pilate directly asks Jesus about Him being the King of the Jews and therefore a political figurehead who had come to overthrow the Romans, Jesus tells Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world; in other words, it’s a spiritual realm, not a political one.

            This is something that we as Christians have to understand and accept. Jesus is not a political puppet, nor a national Messiah. He came to die for the world, not just one nation but all nations, not just one people, but all people. He came among us to bring about a new world, to make it holy again, not just a single nation wishing it was great again. The people in Jerusalem may have been pleading with and praying for Jesus to restore their prestige, strength, and esteem, but Christ refused to lift up and accept any political power.

            When Jesus returns, He will establish a new Earth and a new Heaven, so there will be no nations, borders, or peoples: all will be one. Until then, He will continue to save all kinds of human beings from their personal sins, but not their political symbols.

Point to ponder: From what do we need Jesus to save us?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our Only Leader, King, and Savior. Forgive us for pandering to our political beliefs instead of pondering over our personal salvation. Keep us from trying to shape You into our idea of a Savior and help us to understand that kingdoms, nations, and leaders may rise and fall, but Your words and ways endure forever. Amen.

John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Salvation Devotion: Texting

Matthew 11:19         “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

            Traffic on the interstate to church this morning was very busy, so I had be doubly alert about the vehicles around me. I hoped that the other drivers were doing the same until I noticed that the car behind me was getting very close to my own. From my rear view mirror, I could see the cause – the young woman behind me was busy texting as well as driving. No doubt she thought that she was multi-tasking and that her message was very important. Unfortunately, she was causing me to speed up and the drivers around her to do the same. She didn't know it, but she was also weaving in her lane. Thankfully, no accident occurred, but if she keeps doing it then one day she will probably cause a terrible crash.

            In today’s highlighted verse, Jesus said that ‘wisdom is proved right by her actions.’ Throughout my life I have found that to be the case, especially in Church world. The wisest people that I have known have usually been focused faithfully on ministry or mission, or have regularly participated in worship, study groups or classes.

            Much of what I do is in the preaching and teaching realm of Church world. I can’t make people do the right faithful things, but I can offer them Christ’s words and God’s guidance. However, much like the young woman who thought that she can text and drive at the same time, some people are going to do what they want to do and believe what they want to do believe. The trouble is this: they are potentially going to lose their salvation by doing their own thing, going their own way, and believing what they want to accept.

            ‘Wisdom is proved right by her actions.’ If God offers salvation to those who truly believe in Jesus, would it not be wise to do something about it now, on this side of eternity? Almost saved, as the old preachers used to say, is the same as not being saved. Almost getting it right has the same consequences of getting it totally wrong. As our young people would say: YOLO – You Only Live Once – which is absolutely right, but it also comes with this caveat: you only have this opportunity to be saved by Jesus before death; after we die, even Christ cannot change things.

Questions for personal reflection?

Am I saved? If not, what am I going to do about it?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, Your teachings in the Gospels are mostly about making the right decisions in different circumstances and ultimately about making the One Great Choice to be saved by You. Enable us to diminish our pride, so that we may humbly accept You as our only Savior and Lord. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of my latest paper sculpted drawings called ‘Caledonian Soul.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Cross.