What Day Is It?

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

About this time we celebrate Palm Sunday. In today's world the term has come to mean a time of preparation for the divine assignment. But back then it meant nothing more than people searching for their king. See, he healed the blind and met their needs. Rarely had he ever cared about the fame. After everything he did that was seen, little wonder then that they wanted a king. More than that they desired his kingdom. Have you ever wanted something so bad you had to have it at all costs. Those things might be nice to have at first. But they can be equally dangerous if you do not understand. Here is just that situation. In answer to their question, Jesus begins to tell them of a story. Sometimes the stories help us understand truths too big for even grown-up people to handle.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

Every good story has to start somewhere. Here it started with the nobleman and Jesus telling the story. See, the nobleman had prepared a journey for himself. It appears he was going to see the great king. Only in Jesus story, he had been the great king all along. It is just that the kingdom had not recognized him yet. When you are right up on things, it is easy to not see them for what they really are. The kingdom then was waiting. So the people listened with bated breath for Jesus to continue. It should be a relatively easy task for the nobleman to finish up and come back home. Perhaps he thought of one day shortly and when he would be through. That is just the problem though with working on our time.

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

So he called all his servants together, this nobleman did, to make ready and depart. But the way was long and the journey hard. It seemed he had much to give as he settles his estate. See, the kingdom required the house for which he paid. Without it, he would hardly be through. Redemption might not look like it at first. The invitation was little more than flesh and bone. Sometimes though saving so great a kingdom required giving up his all. How much more then is the price required in exchange for human life. Then the nobleman left his house, knowing everything he did. You might think his decision to be hard at first. Yet his house is far from empty. In his absence his servants have been given much work to do.

But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

How the scene has changed. Only a short while ago he let his servants occupy the place. In doing so, he also let them handle his business. The Good Book says he came unto his own and his own received him not. His citizens likely thought him foreign and somewhat strange at first. So the king came into his kingdom, without much further ado. Only one message they sent to him at first. How precious these citizens to him must be. Really, they were all he had besides the empty place back home. So his response was swift but all they hoped to find. To as many as received him to them would he welcome back home.