Scripture:

“I tell you you can pray for anything, and if you believe you have received it,it will be yours.”

Observation
As they are leaving Bethany, Jesus sees a fig tree in full leaf. When he goes to see if there are any figs on it,he curses it saying, “May no one ever eat from you again.”

In Jerusalem, Jesus enters the temple and drives out the people buying and selling animals for the sacrifices. He stops people from using the temple precinct as a marketplace, saying, “The Scriptures say my temple will be called a house of prayer for the nations, but you have turned it into a den of thieves”

Jesus and the disciples leave the city for the night.

The next morning, they see that the fig tree Jesus had cursed, has withered from the roots. Jesus explains to the disciples that if we have faith in God, we can command mountains to move. If we have faith, believing that we have received something, then it will be given to us

Application
Jesus shows by words and actions that the words we speak can have powerful effects.

He curses a fig tree and it dies overnight.

Jesus tells us that the way to have prayers answered is to believe that God has already granted us what we need.

Too many of us pray wishy washy prayers, hoping for a result, not really believing.

Over and over, Jesus assures us that the Father wants to give us good gifts and that we must trust him for what we need.

This is bold and confident prayer based on a personal relationship with the Lord. It can become presumptuous and fleshly when we demand what we want, without seeking God’s will first.

God is gracious and loving. He wants to pour blessing after blessing upon us.

Listen:

Lord, there is so much to learn about prayer. What would you say to me today about this?

Keith, prayer at its heart is conversation with me. Many Christians believe it’s all one way, but if they would listen to me, they would find great depths in their prayer as well as great power.

This is important. Jesus said, “I only do what I see the Father doing.” You must look to me to see what I am doing and then pray.

Scripture

“Go into that village there,” he said to them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.”

Observation

Jesus and the disciples arrive at Bethphage and Bethany, near the outskirts of Jerusalem.

Jesus sends two of the disciples into the village. He tells him that they will find a donkey at the edge of the village that no one has ever ridden. They are to bring it back to Jesus. If anyone objects, they are to say that the Lord has need of it and will soon return it.

The disciples find everything there as Jesus had said. They bring the donkey back, and Jesus sits on it.

People in the crowd spread garments on the road, while others bring leafy branches. So Jesus is the centre of a huge procession.

People cry out, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Jesus comes into the city and goes to the Temple. After looking around he goes to Bethany for the night.

Application

It seems much longer ago than a few weeks since we celebrated Palm Sunday and then moved through Holy Week to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

While, everyone is going about their business – whether people are minding a donkey or shouting praises in a procession, Jesus is heading relentlessly to the cross.

Did Jesus arrange the use of the donkey? Or did he Just know that there would be a donkey at that place that the owner would lend to him? It’s hard to tell from the text.

In our own lives, it can be hard sometimes to tell the difference between coincidences and answers to prayer. One person said, “I have noticed that the more I pray, the more coincidences happen.”

The key is always to trust everything we have to God – all our plans, our loved ones our church. God can handle it all.

Listen

Lord, is there more you want to say to me about the events we call Palm Sunday?

Keith, from the moment that I sat on that donkey, it was very clear that this was the start of the climax of my whole reason for coming to Earth. We laid the plans for this before we started the world. It was clear that our beloved people would fall into sin and that a provision would have to be made for their salvation. Painful and wrenching as it was, this was the whole purpose. I went to the cross seeing that my death would open the way for millions upon millions of my beloved people to be saved.

So, my time of suffering was infinitely costly, but it brought an infinitely valuable reward.

Lord, I thank you for what you achieved on the cross.