Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
THE MIND OF CHRIST: HE RODE SUBJECT TO SCRIPTURE
The first thing we read about in the Palm Sunday account, is Jesus telling his disciples exactly where to go and what to do to bring back a particular donkey. It's true Jesus used his divine power to know how to procure this donkey. But why did He want the donkey in the first place? Why did he decide to ride into Jerusalem on this day in this manner?
Jesus dedicates His life here on earth both to prayer and the study of scripture. He didn't need divine power to know what the Father's will for Him was. It was all laid out there for Him in Scripture. Jesus sought the answers to His life in prayer and scripture and those answers were there waiting for Him. Jesus didn't spend His life "following His dream." He didn't spend His life trying to make the most of this life. He spent His life following the will of the Father, fulfilling all the things that were written about Him. He spent His life in Scripture.
Man often believes that if he is the one who wrote the law then he is above it. Yet Christ, the Author of Scripture will not ignore a single prophecy. Man believes laws are made to be broken. Yet Christ puts the destruction of earth itself before the breaking of a single word from God. Men sometimes use mercy and love as an excuse to do as they wish. Yet the greatest love of all -- that gave itself on the cross for sinful man -- demands, not in opposition to but for the sake of that same love, the absolute fulfillment of all that is written.
Man's anger wails against God's law. But it is not the one who fights God who is set free, but the one who accepts the word of Scripture. For it is the same Word which pronounces judgment that also sends the Christ riding in our place. It is the same Word which condemns sin that also proclaims forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
