You're listening to a bonus episode of the Daily Article podcast, presented by the Denison Forum.

Empowered, Day 40, Palm Sunday. The Spirit Leads Us. Bill Heibles is the founding pastor of Willow Creek Community Church,

one of the largest

congregations in America. He is also a perceptive interpreter of Scripture and

culture. Consider his comments regarding the first Palm Sunday. Everyone who

lined the streets had a different reason for waving those palms. Some were

political activists. They'd heard Jesus had supernatural power,

and they wanted him to use it to free Israel from Roman rule. Others had loved ones who were sick

and dying. They waved branches, hoping for physical healing. Some were onlookers, merely looking

for something to do, while others were genuine

followers who wished Jesus would establish himself as an earthly king. Jesus was the only one

in the parade who knew why he was going to Jerusalem, to die. He had a mission, while everyone else had an agenda.

What was his mission? Five centuries earlier, the spirit inspired Zechariah to predict.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem, behold, your king is coming to you.

Righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9-9. Military conquerors returned from their campaigns on white stallions, but men of peace always

rode on a lowly donkey. The Messiah would come in peace, the prophet said. What would he do

when he arrived? He shall speak peace to the nations, and set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. The Messiah's

mission was revealed by the Holy Spirit centuries before Palm Sunday. Then the Spirit led Jesus

to fulfill the prophet's prediction. As He led our Lord throughout his ministry, Acts 1038 and Luke 4.1,

so he led him to enter Jerusalem in a way that set the stage for Holy Week.

Now the same Holy Spirit stands ready to lead you today.

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