As we journey towards Easter, let’s take some time to remember the true cost of grace.
Yesterday, the Christian Church, (the church universal), celebrated or acknowledged, the Triumphal Entry, which was when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowd went wild and children cut palm branches and put them across his path. That’s where we get the term Palm Sunday.
It’s the official beginning of Holy Week. I picture a beautiful, sunny day. Jesus comes riding into town on a donkey. How he got he acquired the donkey is one of those, watching for God at work, hair standing up on the back of your neck stories. Three of the Gospels record the account.
Jesus sent two of his disciples to get him a donkey. He told them where it would be and what to say if anyone questioned them. I wonder if the two were nervous. I suppose they could have been accused of stealing. Was their faith strong enough at this point to simply obey without asking questions? They had seen demons cast out and miracles. Were they expecting something huge to happen?
We don’t get many details. They were asked what they were doing in two of the Gospel accounts. They gave the simple message Jesus told them to, “The Lord needs it.” They were allowed to go, with no further questions.
I wonder what our world would look like if we proceeded in life with that mantra. “The Lord needs it.” What if we used it with our money? What if we used it with our time and resources?
They delivered the donkey and Jesus rode in on it. The city was likely very busy. I don’t know whether Jesus just rode in on the donkey alone or if the disciples walked beside him. But, people began to notice and a few voices became many. They began shouting “Hosanna!” which translates to “save please.”
Of course, the crowd would get their wish, although not in the way they expected. They wanted to be saved by being delivered from Rome in a blaze of glory. This same crowd turned on Jesus just five days later and called for his death, a death that did ultimately save not only them, but all of humanity.
The Jews were thinking of the small picture with their desires when the orchestrated Jesus’ death. But, God had something much bigger in mind. He wasn’t interested in saving only Israel from Rome at that moment in time. No, He was interested in saving people from that moment to thousands of years later.
Only God could have known the events coming over the next week. Only God could have known that the real triumph was not to be found on that day, but on Easter morning, six days later, when death lost its power for good.
Let’s take some time this week to think about Jesus and his journey to Easter. Let’s remember his miraculous birth and maybe take some time to read about some of his awesome miracles. Let’s think about the Last Supper and its deeper meaning. Let’s think about his friends. Let’s think about Peter and Judas. Let’s think about his mother Mary.
Let’s think about the cross.
And on Easter morning, let’s really embrace love and grace and the freedom that comes with it.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂