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Lenten Devotion: 3-19-16

Lenten Devotion: 3-19-16

christ 3-19-16

Saturday, March 19, 2016

 

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.  So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!”                                              John 12:12-13

Thought:

Oh dear.  Take a look at those faces.  What do they tell you?  There is little joy and a great deal of trepidation, skepticism or something that is not good.  The Sunday before Easter is a day is full of palms and passion.  It is Jesus’ own Sally Field moment “They like me.  They like me!”  But He knows what is coming soon, within the week.  How did He hold up?  How did He not just cut and run?

 

Beloved, you and I have days, weeks, maybe years like this, when there seems to be such joy surrounding us, but deep within there seems to be a more challenging and difficult moment about to erupt.  How do we keep from cutting and running?  I am grateful that the answer has to do with the One whose hand is raised in this image.  Jesus raises His hand to join with our hands when we are in the midst of “those” moments.  And He casts His eyes toward heaven, praying that you, that I, will know in our hearts we are given grace and strength enough, by God, to walk through all things.  And we do not walk alone.  The One who entered Jerusalem to the acclaim of many, walks near us, every step of the way, and understands, deeply, the journey we take.  May we be encouraged.