I glanced at the calendar and realized that this year Palm Sunday, the day of celebration, was the date of my mother’s death many years ago when I was in high school.  It seemed like an irony.  Happy celebration and high hopes were the order of the day when Jesus road into Jerusalem.  But I was remembering a sad day.  Then it struck me.  Jesus was headed into Jerusalem to die.  Yes, the crowds adored him on Sunday but shouted for his death on Friday.  He had disappointed them.  They were hoping for a king ready to set up his kingdom on earth immediately.  When he didn’t live up to their expectations, the majority disowned him.  He didn’t fit their preconceived idea of what the Messiah should be.  And who can blame them?  We are tempted to do the same.  We want God to fix things in a certain way, but when he doesn’t accommodate our demands, we may turn away from him.  Why didn’t he answer our prayers?  The people in Jesus day had every reason to be disappointed.  They knew their Scriptures foretold a coming king.  They had hoped Jesus was the one.  After all, he had performed miracles.  He was a gifted teacher and healer.  He had a big following.  He had fulfilled many of the prophecies.  Surely this was the one everyone had been waiting for.  He would overthrow the Roman occupation now and set up the long-awaited independent Jewish kingdom.

His mother must have been pleased and excited to see her Son get the welcome he deserved.   As she watched the people cheer him and shout, “Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!”  what the angel told her before his birth must have come to her mind.

“The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”  Luke 1:32-33

His disciples were eager to see him reign.  After all, he had picked them to be his constant companions these past three years, so surely they would be his appointed government officials. His followers assumed he would now take the reigns of government.

“So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”  Acts 1:6

But here he was, riding into the capitol not on a warhorse, but a donkey.  Not as a commander, but as a servant.  He was about to render his last and most important service to mankind.  His death and return to life, as the prophecy said.*

 “Rejoice, O people of Zion!
    Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
    He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey.”  Zechariah 9:9

But God’s coming kingdom was much bigger than they imagined.  It would burst the dam of little Israel and spread like a flood over the entire globe.  They themselves would be the ambassadors of the heavenly King to an alienated world.  They would lead a powerful force that two thousand years later still conquers fear, hatred, death, and division.

“And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

When have you been disappointed with God lately?  When have you wondered what God is doing?  I’ve been wondering why God is allowing our country to become so evil.  Ha!  As if it isn’t our own fault!  But I think you know this feeling of sadness and apprehension.  Things are spiraling out of control.  The change in accepting and not just accepting and condoning, but forcing others to embrace wrongdoing has accelerated at warp speed.  Not only is wrong right, but right is wrong.  It makes me shudder to think of the price I may have to pay for standing up for righteousness.  Attacks on those who disagree with the prevailing political correctness are vicious and hateful.  In the middle of this darkness, where is God?  I must admit I’ve been emotionally and mentally beaten down by the news lately.  I was questioning whether I will have the courage to withstand the opposition we will face when we choose God’s way instead of man’s demands.  More importantly, will I be able to love those who adamantly refuse God’s ways?  Will I be kind and respectful to those who don’t treat me that way?  Then I happened on this verse.  It felt like God’s arms wrapped around me and I felt his closeness and comfort.  I don’t have to face these challenges alone.  God knows our circumstances and he knows the beautiful future he has for each of us as we become the men and women he intended for us to be.

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go . . . I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”  Genesis 28:15

Our King has come to us.  He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble.  He is a servant.  He cares for the worst of us.  And someday he will come in a different way and do the things we all hope for.  He will ride in on a warhorse.  He will be the commander-in-chief of a victorious army.  He will take the reigns of government.  He will set things right.  He will rule.  We have confidence and hope because we know the end of the story.  Let’s encourage each other.

“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.  The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.  From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule . . . King of all kings and Lord of all lords.”  Revelation 19:11,14,16

In the meantime, we have many precious promises that God is with us and is making us what we should be.  Let’s remind each other!  And let’s be kind and gentle to those who don’t yet know God.

“But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.  And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.  All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.”  Jude 20-24

*”But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;  the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5