The Triumphal Entry
Prior to the triumphal entry, Jesus intentionally tells his audience a parable as he knows that their understanding of what is happening with and through him is not in alignment with a true understanding.
The impact of Jesus upon individuals had a diverse reaction and response, but we do not get anyone directly in the scriptures comprehending his journey into the valley of death. Perhaps, the women who anointed his feet came closest. We do know that Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus concerning it, but that they the apostles with him did not comprehend that which Jesus spoke to them concerning the resurrection.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. ‘” John 7:38, KJV: He that believeth ‘in’ me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
This scripture raises many facts, Jesus as the Son of man is a person to be believed in. That he was also born of a virgin is imperative to believing in who he is in respect to that which the scripture prophesied and how he was conceived. Scripture speaks, scripture is speaking things that are vitally important concerning the heart and concerning life itself. The heart can be a river of life unto others thirst when we believe all that the scripture teach us concerning Jesus.
Perhaps, one reason Moses & Elijah appeared upon the mount of transfiguration was so that the early Church and generations to come would know the reality concerning the resurrection of the dead, both men having died in the physical sense on the wrong side of the Jordan. Speaking to the believers concerning the promises of life being the original land of promise, hearing Jesus, is the only continuation of scripture, but his life never contradicts himself! A living epistle, a gospel, four gospels, four rivers in Eden, every corner of this globe has been touched by the good news.
Elliott’s and Pulpits commentary are helpful, especial the close of Pulpits as it relates to the outworking on this earth of his reigning in heaven – a prepared bride, who has come out of Babylon.
https://biblehub.com/john/7-38.htm
Verse 38. – He that believeth on me. The ὁ πιστεύων in the nominative absolute, followed by another construction, gives great force to the mighty words. This is not the first time that Christ has represented believing under the form of both “coming” and “drinking.” The one term seems to cover that part of faith in Christ which unites the soul to him, which sides with him, which utterly abandons self to take his word as true and his power as sufficient; the other term, when applied to participation in his blood, implies receiving into the soul the full solace of his imparted life. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall rush torrents of living water. From his newly given, divinely imparted life shall proceed, as from the innermost depths of his consciousness, illimitable supplies of refreshment and fertility for others as well. Each soul will be a rock smitten in the thirsty land, from which crystal rivers of life-giving grace shall flow. Godet urges, against Meyer, the great sufficiency of this particular illustration of the rock in the wilderness as justifying the reference to the phrase, “as the Scripture hath said,” and points especially to Exodus 17:6, “Behold, I will stand before thee there… in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and out of it (מִמֶּנּוּ) water shall come, that the people may drink” (cf. Numbers 20:11; Deuteronomy 8:15; Psalm 114:8; passages read during the feast). He thinks the κοιλίας αὐτοὺ corresponds with “from out of it” of Exodus. Hengstenberg laid long and fantastic emphasis on the Canticles,where the κοιλία of the bride of Jehovah is described. It is certain that the numerous passages in the Old Testament, in which the gift of refreshing water is made the symbol of national mercies and spiritual blessings, do, for the most part, fall short of this remarkable expression. Still, Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 55:1; Isaiah 58:11; Joel 3:18; Zechariah 14:8, all more or less approach the thought; but Ezekiel 47:1-12, where from the altar the living, health giving, mighty river flows for the healing of the nations, is so akin to the saying of the Lord, as soon as we recognize the fact that he is greater than the temple, and that his Church is God’s temple, and each body of man a temple of the Holy Ghost, that all real difficulty vanishes. The whole history of the Church is one continuous comment and illustration of the exhaustless fulness of his Word. Just as a soul of man comes and drinks of the water of life, he becomes himself a perennial source of life to others. He supplies not cisterns of stagnant water, but rivers of living water (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16). Chrysostom adds, “One may perceive what is meant, if he will consider the wisdom of Stephen, the tongue of Peter, the vehemence of Paul; how nothing withstood them – not the anger of multitudes, nor the uprising of tyrants, nor plots of devils, nor daily deaths – but, as rivers borne along with loud rushing sound, they went on their way.” This cry from Jesus was from out of his heart, but does not appear to be verbatim scripture, as mentioned above.
Isaiah Ch 12 – The Lord is my strength and song. A chapter of thankfulness – with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Give thanks to the Lord.
Pulpit John Ch 7 v37 highlights that this was the 8th day and a day in which Psalms 113-118 were sung – “the great Hosanna.”
As the scripture has said, I do believe that this encompasses all aspects. It is referring to the previous verse and echoes of prophesy, Isaiah Ch 55 v1 etc. But it must relate directly to what follows.
And in that I believe it must relate to the rock struck at Horeb ‘from out of it’. Not verbatim but a direct reference to it.
Somehow this verse has mysterious mystery within it, even in the context of scripture and that which it has spoken. In that it has a union of Christ and his bride the Church. It is the unseen man of Genesis Ch 2, being joined together with the tangible man on earth: full of grace and truth, rivers of life.
Interestingly, Psalm 113 v7 &8 follow all that Jesus has been teaching in Lukes gospel prior to the triumphal entry.
Exodus Ch 17:
I believe that this is the most direct aspect of the text of John Ch 7 v38.
They had wanted to stone a women taken in adultery, but twice Jesus wrote upon the ground. And Stephen was stoned, for preaching full of the Holy Spirit, their quarreling spirits too rebellious to yield. And out of his final cry, an Amalek – the First Nation to oppose Israel as they journey into the promises of Gods provisions – An enemy of the Church breathing out violent quarreling against the Church is brought into the whomsoever rivers of grace to the nations. Saul, who disobeyed the Lord in utterly destroying all the Amalek especially the King, loses his Kingdom to a shepherd who slays an Amalek for killing the Lords anointed.
Saul the first great enemy of the Church is made into an Apostle of Grace. Saul becomes Paul, a Shepherd of the Church having been the king at Stephens stoning, laying their garments at his feet.
Exodus Ch 17 v6 – obviously this is spiritual and not literal in that the Lord was not physically going to appear to Moses there. But, it can be read as illustrative that the Lord was standing upon the Rock, in that it is the Lord himself who works the miracle and it is the Lord himself who changed the heart of Saul into Paul through a whisper in the ear of a granite hardened heart: Brother, Saul the Lord Jesus.
The Amalek came and fought with Israel.
What a statement! The First Nation, it is called as they are the first to opposes Gods soverign plan and purpose for his called out people.
The Lord had told Moses to strike the rock with his staff, the shepherd staff that had been especially anointed and used.
Quarreling! Quarreling is warfare. Quarreling is the start of all wars and the Grecian widows had a complaint against the native Hebrews. Choose for us men to go and resolve this.
Now the scriptures do not state that the Lord told Moses to take his Staff and do this. But the scene ends up mirroring the Lord standing upon the Rock – and as all the people drank from the waters, so to all the people where going to benefit from Moses holding up his staff during the battle.
It was an act of intercession, and it was drawing upon the nature of God that would not allow them to perish in the wilderness through thirst. This battle was a standing, a mirroring of the Lord, it is the joining together in union, it is the place from whence man fell in Gen Ch 3, disbelieving the promises of life and harmony with God and your fellow man – the manifestation of the fall is first spoken by blaming God for having given him a speaking wife – someone who could influence him in good or bad. Man fell by not mirroring the character and faithfullness of God. Adam akin to Moses later did not believe the Lords nature as being the all sufficiency he needed in every breath and circumstance. Had he believed the Lord, Cain would not have struck Abel. Had he believed the Lords Word, the holy scriptures yet to be penned, the promise of life eternal, he would only have needed to speak unto his beloved a kind word of encouragement rather than striking her twice! First by allowing her to be charmed by a serpent who was intent on confusing her understanding of good and evil, not knowing that life springs out of the covering for her head – she serving the confusion to her husband. Secondly, by washing away his accountability for her actions who had he spoken the words of life aright yielded lovingly to his reign, instead vindicated himself at her personal exposure. The second being the confusion wrought through his abdication. The second being the fruit of it, an Amalek had been born within the very ‘heart’ of paradise!
And does this not get to the roots of all marital quarreling.
He that believes in me: Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
Adam only speaks once in scripture after these events, and that is to name Seth, through whom the generation of Amalek was utterly defeated through the lifted up Cross of the Great Shepherd, the staff of Israel himself at Calvary.
The generations from Adam flowed throughout the Old Testament, right through Moses, Joshua and Daniel too. But then the generation of Jesus Christ.
Adam lived 800 years after Seth was born, and that is a multiplication by a factor of 10×10 of the great day of the feast, 8th day, the redemption of that day from whence Eve, was taken ‘Out from within the side of man’.
When Moses lifted up the Word of God, the truth of God, the promises of God, – the mercies of God, the grace of God – the prophetic ministry within – it is only the ministry of Grace that can bring ‘Out’ life from a dead inorganic rock! The second time this event is repeated, Moses did an Adam, he did not somehow cleave unto the original custodianship of union with the character of God.
When Moses lifted up the Word of God, the truth of Gods banner, the clarity of Gods promises nailing his colors to believing in HIM, then all the people of God entered into the victory, the generation of Jesus Christ comes through the Cross of Calvary, the place of a Skull where the flesh is stripped away from thoughts concerning good and evil, and death is manifested that which is opposed and quarreling with the God who is life and can only reproduce life.
The Cross is the transformative Word of God we preach unto those who believe everlasting life.
The Cross is the fulfillment of all scripture
Moses had two men holding a hand up on either side.
Jesus had two thieves one on either side of him at Calvary.
Write this as a memorial: Today you will be with me in paradise.
Write this as a memorial: Sin no more.
Write this as a memorial: Take these stones from my hands.
Write this as a memorial: His name shall be called John, no longer known as Saul – the handwriting of ordinances against us nailed to his Cross – blotted out.
And Moses built an alter and called the name of it, ‘The Lord Is My Banner’.
The footnote in my esv states ‘a slight change would yield upon the banner’.
I like this as it flows into the next verse: ‘A hand upon the throne of the Lord’, a commentary alluding to it meaning that others were to follows Moses example in lifting their hand unto the Lord.
Gen Ch 14 v22: But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth’.
And out of this mans faith in Gods faithfulness, a victory is procured over Adamic nature across the board – and an inheritance, a generational blessing is manifested according to Gods nature unto every nation and family and child.
Gen Ch 15: A sacred promise that Moses was called into. Those at the great day of the feat, and Jerusalem did they realize who was passing by: The fulfillment of Scripture, the Word of God himself.
A seed that crushes the serpents headship over man.
As far as the east is from the west – ‘Forgive them’ the cry of Jesus upon the cursed tree.
Blotting out the memory of Amalek. Who would not have the King reign over them.
Within the parable of the minas’s we see the rock upon which Moses sat.
We see unto those who receive the promises of God and mirror Gods character and faithfulness that more is given. Gods reining over them brings them into a likeness in their Spirit with the King – yielded to him brings victory.
Moses had to allow other men to carry his Cross – the shepherds staff. To follow in the footsteps of that supply that had been shown unto him: From hence forth you shall catch men! Peter ‘spoke’ on the day of Pentecost, it was the mirroring of having seen the prophets ministry fulfilled, Jesus raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of Father as are legal and spotless advocate – and the fire that carried the prophet up fell on all 120 gathered (Father & Son- tell Joshua, from Church age to Church age this is Gods Banner). A second Moses being carried within, flesh and blood being added to both hands: the law and the prophets – but not through law but yielded to loves call: Are you thirsty there is an endless supply.
Humility is a necessity for yieldedness. And faith in Gods character is imperative to speak a word only: “Thy will be done’. Be it unto me according to thy Word.
Mary beheld her Son upon the Cross, each hand stretch out.
When he drew near to Bethpage and Bethany, he sent two of his disciples.
Two gospels inform us this was done to fulfill scripture.
This episode raises questions? Did Jesus own the donkey? Had he been intentional in procuring one years before so that scripture could be fulfilled, so that as the legal owner the custodians who release it. Had it not been ridden in part due to his instructions.
To mediate upon this verse is healthy even if some thoughts are chaff. As it centers on Jesus himself as the Word of God also being the fulfillment of scripture.
Now whether Jesus moved entirely without premeditation, or whether at times he was intentional like his cry on the great day of the feast is only edifying to the imagination as either way Gods Word has been fulfilled.
But it was not Jesus who hammered the nails into his own hands!
This highlights the colt and the journey to Jerusalem as King.
His humility and yeildedness to fulfill law and prophets is the love & grace of God displayed to ‘Reign’ over the nature of sin/death, darkness and the devil.
Jesus breaks the nature of sin through reigning over us in humility and grace.
The prophetic fulfillment, came at this appointed time, immediately after the parable of the ten Mina’s. God was revealing through parables his nature to reign over us, the colt was liberated and what a liberation: To carry the creator of all things into his sacred City, to become the sin offering that God might rejoice over us: Standing upon are graves and shouting ‘unloose him’. The granite stone was rolled away, and a women greeted him in the cool of the day: Raboni, no confusion she knew what covering of love had shone brightly into her night. Having like Moses been unfaithful to the nature and character of God: All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
If these were silent the very stones would cry out: Mercy saved me, Grace redeemed me, his banner over me is love.
The Colt is a perfect illustration of the reign of Christ over a believers life. Set free to live for the Glory of God and souls of men. ‘Hosanna’, that is something to GIVE GOD THANKS FOR.
Amalek nailed Jesus to the Cross – Rome and its Patheon of gods, appeared to be annulling all the promises unto Abraham and Israel.
But within four centuries.
Jesus couldn’t fulfill scripture himself, the sin fullness of man, he yielded himself into his Fathers hands, that his banner over us might be: Father I see, the Cross is the only victory. That can and must be shared with other men. Go tell my brothers I am ascending.
The sin of man fulfilled prophesy: Yeilded before the foundations of the world to take away all the quarreling of this world and are lives. Would you be free from sin, humble thyself and discover glourious liberty: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man ‘standing’ at the right hand of God. And was not the truth of the New Covenant shared with his neighbour, the living waters gushing out from within his testimony.
Note:
The donkeys first steps as an unloosed donkey were upon the cloaks they laid upon the ground. The donkey was effectively walking upon the same ground as the Lord sat!
This is a spiritual principle concerning are inheritance in Christ. Straightway, Paul was seated with Christ in heavenly places when the Lord Jesus sat upon him as Ananias laid his hands upon him and spoke a word of his liberation.
The scene not only has the instantaneous liberty and contrast that comes through the reign of the King, but it also has men leading the mule by the hand unto its destination where the Lord has need of him.
The Lords reign was imparted by a man covered in Christs righteousness, Saul was filled as Ananias did what the Lord had instructed him to. Paul was unloosed from the yoke of sin and religious bondage through the obedience of a man unto the Word of God. This is the Triumphal entry being shared amongst men – Hosanna – the Lord has need of you. Obedience and faith are inseparable and they breath life into the hearts of other men.
Ananias was the mouthpiece of Stephens cry.
Stiff-necked and bound in religious works, laying their garments at a young mans feet named Saul.
Saul is first introduced and named in scripture sandwiched right in the centre of the text in which Stephen is martyred – at its very heart.
Stephen was obedient to that which he had seen that God had done through Christ the King, and through his obedience to the Word of God that had dwelt amongst men. Stephen shared with them the truth of the triumphal entry, the Son of God having passed through obediently to plead his perfect spotless sacrifice before his Father on are behalf.
Stephen saw the throne of King Jesus in Heaven, and that the earth is his footstool, and the sovereignty of God unloosed a man to walk and share with others the triumphal victory.
They cast Stephen out of the city, a city in which the Most High did not dwell in, and the ‘feet’ of a young man becomes the stool of his resting place upon the earth – a resting place to carry the Lords name before Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
eternalrays 