Timing is Everything

Timing is Everything
Words of Faith 2-20-2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 11
[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!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
[10] "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father, David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

[11] Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was disturbing. Although Jesus entered riding the colt of a donkey, an image of peace, waving Palm branches was a greeting reserved for a victorious liberating king. It was also the emblem of revolt, the rallying banner of freedom fighters.
Jewish messianic expectations were really relatively straightforward. The expected Messiah would do four things:
1. End the Roman oppression of the Jews.
2. Restore a descendant of King David over a reunited Land of Israel.
3. Bring about the miraculous return of the scattered exiles to the Land of Israel.
4. Inaugurate an era of peace and harmony in the world.
The shouts of "Hosanna!", "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father, David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" all pointed toward this expectation. The Jewish people were ready to welcome Messiah, but very much on their terms and within their definitions. In fact, the Jewish Messiah, Jesus (Yeshua), will do all these things. However, these things will be done in His time and His way.
Timing is everything.
Jesus had another task to take care of. He would clean out the squalor of vendors and thieves from the courts of the Temple. He had seen this desecration all of His earthly life at least three times a year as He made pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Once again, He saw the offensive intrusion of greed into His Father's house. Once again, he would wait a few more hours. He would precisely time the cleansing of the Temple at the height of the "business day." The stinging rebuke would be heard clearly by the leaders of the Temple. So, Jesus waited. One more night. Timing is everything.
Jesus really did come to end oppression. He really did come to reign over Israel from the restored house of David. He really did come to miraculously gather the scattered exiles of Israel back into the land. He really did come to inaugurate an era of peace in the world. He was simply waiting a few more hours. He was not done yet. Timing is everything.

Lord, I await Your return in glory. I await the conclusion of Your Messianic work. I await the completion of this age. I see Your hand at work in history, and I trust You and Your timing. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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