Family Devotions - The Triumphal Entry of Christ

Today we studied the account of Jesus' coming into to Jerusalem on a donkey.  
We read Matthew 21: 1-17

We talked about the people waving the palm branches.  This was a practice done during the Feast of Tabernacles and not done at the Passover.  Why this time of year, right before the Passover were they doing a Feast of Tabernacle practice?  We told Mary, our daughter, that the Feast of Tabernacles was the celebration remembering their coming out of wandering in the desert in tents and coming to dwell in the Promise Land.  So they were remembering back and also looking forward to the day they would enter into their rest with God being their King and he would rule over the nations.  So when Jesus came into Jerusalem, they were thinking that he was coming to rule physically there and set Israel above all the nations of the earth.  The thing they did not pay attention to was that Christ was riding on a donkey and not a white horse, which is what he will be riding in his second coming to rule over the earth.   So, the people were thinking that this was his time of physical rule and they did not realize that he had come as the Passover lamb to die for the sins of all mankind.  We also told Mary of the miracle of the donkey, that is was colt that had not been ridden before.  She has read lots of horse stories how the young colts did not like to be ridden on at first and had to be broken and gentled.  So, the disciples brought the donkey colt to Jesus and he had no trouble riding it.  She asked, "How did he do that?"  We told her because Jesus is the Lord of all creation and all things are under his control.  She thought that was really amazing.

We also played this video for Mary of the cartoon of the donkey's perspective.

Here is the link: http://youtu.be/2-JXL3W2gFo

We also watched this informational video on why Jesus rode on a donkey.

Here is the link: http://youtu.be/evtOaOl1XSo

(Just a note about these videos, we are only interested in what the video is showing we are not endorsing the ministry that put them up there.)

We sang this song, "Hosanna in the Highest" 

 

Here is the link: http://youtu.be/E1X-VDCMyAc

We closed in prayer.  We are so encouraged by those who have showed interest in our family devotions.  We know that this is a very powerful but simple time for our family.  This is not our only time of talking about the scriptures to each other.  We have unplanned moments that turn into wonderful opportunities to teach and to share.  Last month we had a wonderful talk with Mary after breakfast one day about Jesus's coming as a baby and coming lowly and poor in the material things of the world, and the importance of moving away from wealth.  We also talked about Him coming to save us and how we grow old now but one day, if we follow Jesus by accepting the salvation He has freely given us, and keeping His words, that we will be in heaven with Him and we will live forever.   

We encourage you to talk with your children daily about the truths of the scriptures and talk with your friends and family members about the truth and see what happens.