“The whole crowd…burst into enthusiastic praise… Luke 19:37
As Jesus rode a donkey into the town of Jerusalem a large crowd gathered and laid palm branches and their cloaks across the road, giving Jesus royal treatment. By carpeting Jesus’s path with clothing and palm fronds, the multitude honored Jesus and showed their acceptance of Him as their king. Can’t you just feel the anticipation and excitement of the crowd on Palm Sunday? No doubt, the people had gotten up early and made their way to the perfect spot where they would be able to witness the King. I’ll bet they were straining to see the first view of Him, probably standing on their tip toes. Finally, they would see Him, and the crowd most likely cheered as He made His way down the path. But, in the midst of the praise of the moment, He knew in His heart that it wouldn't be long that these same people would turn their backs on Him, betray Him, and crucify Him. And yet He rode…The people thought there would be a throne at the end of the path, but there was a cross. They thought He would reign but instead He was removed.
Before the end of the week He would trade His triumphal entry atop a donkey for His anguish and despair on His knees in the garden. ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death…’ Mark 13:44 ‘Father…take this cup away from me – nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently...’ Luke 22:42-44
While no one’s experience will ever come close to the one described above everyone will experience shock and anguish in some area of their life. How many times have we gotten a phone call that changed the trajectory of our lives? How many times did Monday appear joyful, only to be replaced by heartache the following Monday? Jesus can fully relate to our suffering, and our pleas for delivery. He too asked God to take away His despair. He too begged God to accomplish His will in a different way. But God knew that the journey was not in vain…God knew that while Jesus would be buried in shame, Christ would be raised in glory. And just like with Jesus, He has a reason for our suffering which will be revealed when the purpose has been fulfilled. I read a beautiful description of our life as a tapestry. While God sees the beautiful and completed top of the tapestry, we are seeing it from beneath with all its knotted chaos and loose strings. From below, the tapestry is anything but beautiful.
Sometimes God places in motion a string of events that seem like we are riding into town in glory only to be replaced with bruised knees in the garden. Just like Jesus, we must continue to ride down our path knowing the strengthening of our soul will be administered by angels. Remember, the humiliating and despairing journey to the cross wasn’t the end of His story and neither will it be the end of ours. Even when we don't feel like it we must continue to linger in the garden in fellowship and prayer with the One who is weaving our stories into beauty and redemption.
“Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.” 1 Co 15:43
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