The Word for Today with Ray: July 2021

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Hosanna! Blessed is He - Mark 11:9

Mark wrote when Jesus and His disciples, “came near to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sent forth two of his disciples. And said unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as you be entered into it, you shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do you this? say you that the Lord has need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do you, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way”, and in chapter eleven and verse nine of his book, Mark shared how people, “cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord” where we read:

And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna;

Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord:

The verse reads, “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna;” Mark began with the words, “and they that went before” which means “and the people who led forward in advance of Jesus”, “and they that followed” or “and the people who accompanied, attended and joined Jesus' party from beside or behind”, “cried” which means “croaked, vociferated and spoke with a loud voice”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “Hosanna” which means “be propitious and oh save”. Mark shared how the people who traveled both before, along with and behind Jesus shouted out “Hosanna” or “save now” to Jesus.

The verse continues, “Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord:” Mark added the words, “Blessed is he” which means “praise, celebration and favor is upon the One” “that comes” or “who appears and arrives” “in the name of the Lord” which means “in everything which the name covers including the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering belonging to the he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding”. Mark shared how the people also exclaimed “praise, celebration and favor” upon Jesus who was arriving to them in the Lord's name. (See Psalm 118:26)

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how the people around Jesus began to call out for Him to “save now” as they praised Him for arriving in the “Lord's name”. This fulfilled prophesy concerning the Messiah as the people were excited, and they believed their Messiah was coming to “save” them. God's plan for the salvation of mankind was unfolding, and people “cheering and calling out” to Jesus to “save” them was a part of this plan. God wants every person to be in a personal relationship with Him, and those who “cry out” to His Son Jesus to “save now” shall receive forgiveness of sins and everlasting life with God.

Next time Mark shares how the people continued to cry out, “Blessed be the kingdom of our father David” , so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Garments Spread and Branches Strawed - Mark 11:8

Mark wrote when Jesus and His disciples, “came near to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sent forth two of his disciples. And said unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as you be entered into it, you shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do you this? say you that the Lord has need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do you, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him”, and in chapter eleven and verse eight of his book, Mark shared how people, “spread their garments in the way” and “strawed branches in the way” where we read:

And many spread their garments in the way:

and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

The verse reads, “And many spread their garments in the way: ” Mark began with the words, “and many spread their garments” which means “and a great number of people furnished and strew their outer cloaks and mantles” “in the way” or “along the traveled road and pathway”. Mark shared how the people began to respond to Jesus' ride upon the “young donkey” by strewing their “outer clothing” upon the pathway where He would ride.

The verse goes on to say, “and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.” Mark continued with the words, “and others” which means “and other people who were there” “cut down branches” or “cut off leafy limbs” “off the trees” which means “from the nearby trees”, “and strawed them” or “and strew, lay and furnished the branches” “in the way” which refers to “in the pathway of the traveled road”. Mark shared how other people within the crowd began to “cut” “branches” off trees and strew them in the pathway where Jesus was riding upon the “donkey”.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how the people responded to Jesus riding upon the “young donkey”. Those who saw Jesus began to honor Him by strewing their outer “garments” and “cut off branches” in His pathway. Jesus is to be honored, worshiped and revered even as these people were beginning to do, and this too was a part of God's plan to bring about the redemption of mankind. God was working His plan through His Son Jesus, and when the people gave honor to Jesus on this “Palm Sunday”, they were welcoming the one who desired to be their “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Mark shares how the people, “cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord” , so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

The Colt Brought to Jesus - Mark 11:7

Mark wrote when Jesus and His disciples, “came near to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sent forth two of his disciples. And said unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as you be entered into it, you shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do you this? say you that the Lord has need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do you, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go”, and in chapter eleven and verse seven of his book, Mark shared how Jesus' disciples, “brought the colt to Jesus” where we read:

And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

The verse reads, “And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him;” Mark began with the words, “and they brought” which means “and Jesus' two disciples led and carried” “the colt to Jesus” or “the young donkey to Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”, “and cast their garments” which means “and threw, put and lay their upper cloaks, mantles or tunics” “on him” or “upon the young donkey or colt”. Mark shared how Jesus' “two disciples” led the “young donkey” to where Jesus was and put their outer garments upon the donkey.

The verse continues, “and he sat upon him.” Mark added the words, “and he sat” which means “and Jesus was seated, fixed and established” “upon him” or “on the young donkey”. Mark shared how Jesus mounted the “young donkey” and “began to ride upon him”.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see more of the reason Jesus wanted the “donkey”. Jesus was to ride upon the “donkey” into Jerusalem (“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King comes unto you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an donkey, and upon a colt the foal of an donkey.” Zechariah 9:9) Jesus is the Messiah sent from God, and those who are wise will pay particular attention to every detail concerning His progress toward the “cross” and understand, every aspect is for the salvation of mankind.

Next time Mark shares how people, “spread their garments in the way” , so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Saying What Jesus Commands - Mark 11:6

Mark wrote when Jesus and His disciples, “came near to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sent forth two of his disciples. And said unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as you be entered into it, you shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do you this? say you that the Lord has need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do you, loosing the colt?”, and in chapter eleven and verse six of his book, Mark shared how Jesus' disciples, “said unto them even as Jesus had commanded” where we read:

And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

The verse reads, “And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded:” Mark began with the words, “and they” which means “and the two disciples” “said unto them” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to the ones who asked them why they were unfastening the donkey” “even as Jesus” which means “in the same manner and way that Jesus who is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “had commanded” or “ordered, directed and enjoined them”. Mark shared how Jesus' “two disciples” answered those who questioned them just as Jesus said.

The verse goes on to say, “ and they let them go.” Mark continued with the words, “and they” which means “and the people who were questioning Jesus' two disciples” “let them go” or “allowed and permitted the two disciples to leave with donkey”. Mark shared how the people attending to the “donkey” allowed the “two disciples” to have him after they knew Jesus wanted him.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus' prediction concerning those who would question His disciples came true. As soon as the people attending to the “donkey” asked them why they were freeing him, Jesus' disciples told them “the Lord has need of him”, and the attendants let them go. God has a plan, and He is always working it out according to His divine purpose. (See Romans 8:28) God desires for all people to trust Him and His plan of “salvation” through His Son Jesus, and when a person examines the evidence concerning all these details including what happens with a “young donkey”, they should respond by yielding their life to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus' disciples, “brought the colt to Jesus” , so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Friday, July 30, 2021

What Are You Doing? - Mark 11:5

And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do you, loosing the colt?

The verse reads, “And certain of them that stood there said unto them, ...” Mark began with the words, “and certain of them” which means “and a particular person among those around the young donkey” “that stood there” or “who was standing where the donkey was tied” “said unto them” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed to the two disciples”. Mark shared how there were people standing around the “young donkey” and a “particular one” of them said the following to Jesus' “two disciples”.

The verse continues, “ What do you, loosing the colt?” Mark added the words, “what do you” which means “what are you doing”, “loosing the colt” or “unfastening and setting free the young donkey”? Mark shared how the person near the “donkey” asked Jesus' “two disciples” why they were “unfastening” the “donkey”.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus anticipated this man's reaction to His “two disciples” “loosening” the “colt”. Jesus is omniscient, and because He was aware of what the man would say, He told His “two disciples” what their answer was to be. God is all-knowing, and He is aware of what it takes to “save” mankind from His “sins”. He sent Jesus to the world to die for the sinful behavior of every person, and when they yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they will have received the “answer” to anyone's question and enjoy the idea of being “set free”.

Next time Mark shares how people around Jesus' disciples asked them, “they let them go” , so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

The Colt Discovered - Mark 11:4

And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

The verse reads, “And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met;” Mark began with the words, “and they went their way” which means “and Jesus' two disciples left and departed toward the village”, “and found the colt tied” or “and discovered, notice and perceived the young donkey fastened and bound” “by the door without” which means “beside the vestibule or opening like a outside door or entrance” “in a place” or “within a location” “where two ways met” which means “where two roads met like a fork in the road”. Mark shared how Jesus' “two disciples” left and discovered the “young donkey” right inside the village” at a fork in the road just the way Jesus said .

The verse goes on to say, “and they loose him.” Mark continued with the words, “and they” which means “and the two disciples” “loosed him” or “unfastened, released and set free the young donkey”. Mark shared how Jesus' “two disciples” did as He told them and “unfastened” the young donkey.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we can imagine how presumptive this act by the “two disciples” seemed. Just because this “young donkey” was found did not normally mean that anyone could come along and “unfasten” it. However, God was in charge, and Jesus knew His “need” for the donkey. God's plan is not always according to man's plan, and when it came to His Messiah Jesus, some things were done unconventionally. God's desire is to have a personal loving relationship with everyone through His Son Jesus, and whoever recognizes who He is, even when His ways are different than their own, should yield their lives to Him as their “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Mark shares how people around Jesus' disciples asked them, “what are you doing, loosing the colt?” , so read ahead, and we shall join together then.