Image from grandprairiepresbyterian.org
After saying these things, Jesus headed straight up to Jerusalem. When he got near Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: "Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says anything, asks, 'What are you doing?' say, 'His Master needs him.'" The two left and found it just as he said. As they were untying the colt, its owners said, "What are you doing untying the colt?" They said, "His Master needs him." They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed: Blessed is he who comes, the king in God's name! All's well in heaven! Glory in the high places! Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!" But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise." (Luke 19:28-40 The Message Version)
A couple of times in my life, we have been in the right place at the right time for what we believed to be unexpected parades. Once, late at night near the Alamo in downtown San Antonio, one of the many night parades this city holds, here comes an awesome parade; with few there to enjoy it, we had a great view! Another time we drove into Fredericksburg at the right time to park downtown and see their night time Christmas parade. They enjoyed a bigger crowd, but we still had a great view of all the floats. Imagine walking the Jerusalem streets on what we now call Palm Sunday. You would have seen people rushing to the palm trees and pulling down branches. You would have seen others taking off their coats and placing them right on the street. The ones with the palm branches would have been waving them. You might have joined in, not knowing truly what was going one. You may have asked someone, "What's going on? What are we celebrating?" In San Antonio they might have said, "Ah, man, we have parades like every other week! Just enjoy it and yell!" But here some might have said, "Here comes the Messiah; He will overthrow the Roman government!" Others might have said, "He is the One we have been waiting for to deliver us from everything the scriptures say have held us down for so long!" And you might have joined in shouting what you see in this passage: "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!" And you would have seen a bearded man riding on a colt through the streets, followed by 12 other bearded men and a cast of women close behind; you might have wondered where the army was.
It would be the next day you would have news that this man had gone to the Temple and made quite a ruckus; and by the end of the week the same crowd you had seen praising God would now be calling for this man's death. Would that have changed your view of this man and that day's events?
Lent is drawing to a close, and we are remembering the events in Jesus' life we call the Passion. It starts with Palm Sunday and moves through Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and we await Sunday morning. Are you closer to God today than you were yesterday? Have these days of Lent prepared you spiritually for what is to come?
PRAYER: Lord, let the doors of my heart swing open wide to allow Jesus in! I cannot face life without Him and I cannot hold on to anyone or anything else, save Jesus. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, be King and ruler of my life! This I pray in your name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
