THE KINGDOM OF GOD - PART 3
“and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”” Matthew 21:16 NKJV
Matthew 21 tell us about the Triumphal Entry of Jesus in Jerusalem back in the days where He was walking among us in the flesh. It tells the history of Him entering into the city of Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel where David ruled the nation and where God promised His kingdom for his inheritance forever.
“My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before Me; It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah” Psalms 89:34-37 NKJV
Therefore, when Jesus entered the city, the people praised him...
'Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord !’ Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”' Mark 11:9-10 NKJV
And the entire city was moved by this event...
“And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”” Matthew 21:10-11 NKJV
What impressed me about this last verse is to see that many people lived in the same days of Jesus, and saw Him walking among them, witnessing all His miracles and wonders, and yet He didn’t know Him very well. He wasn’t one more prophet from a minor city... and this could be happening today, people go religiously every Sunday to church and hear about Him, some even witnessing miracles happen. He might be walking among them (Rev.2.1) and yet, many don't get to know who He really is (Lk.13.27).
Let's picture Matthew 21's scene. Older people talking about who they though Jesus was, religious guys mad at him because He was healing the people (therefore afraid of loosing the power they though they had to govern the house of the Lord), and kids praising Him just perfectly. Isn't that the same picture repeating in church these days?
I imaging the kids from the scene back in those days, perhaps they didn’t listen to Him preaching or witnessed any miracle, but they did have just what the Father needed, in order to give the perfect praise to His son.
'But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” ' Mark 10:14-15 NKJV
'and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.' Matthew 18:3-5 NKJV
I’m glad that I got to make my worship and soprano voice study lessons in my church music school for kids. At the beginning I though it was too late for me, but decided to go ahead and do it, persevering in my studies and practices among plenty of kids until I finally graduated after five semesters of classes, without knowing that God was intentionally preparing me to praise to His son perfectly, Iike those kids. Actually that school was closed just after I graduated.
Today I pray that as you read these words your heart is getting prepared by the Father himself so the next time you praise Jesus Christ, you do it perfectly. Not only seen the Lamb who was slaughtered, or a prophet in a little donkey, but the rightful King of all the nations of the earth. The most humble and noble Lamb and at the same time, the King of kings... The King of Israel.
'And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.' Revelation 5:9-14 NKJV